Chechen Republic -- Russian Government must protect civilians of Chechnya

Amnesty International is deeply concerned that the continuing bombing in Chechnya carried out by the Russian military over the past week has resulted in civilian deaths and thousands of displaced people fleeing the Chechen Republic. The air raids began following the recent apartment explosions in Moscow and two other Russian cities, which killed at least 292 people, and which have been attributed by the Russian government to Islamic groups from the Chechen Republic, but for which no group has yet claimed responsibility. The organisation is concerned that the Russian government's response to the apartment bombings appears to be a campaign to punish an entire ethnic group. 'Fighting crime and terrorism' is no justification for violating human rights.