'There can be no justification for the deliberate targeting of unarmed civilians. This act is a violation of the basic requirements of international humanitarian law, in particular those protecting civilians. We unequivocally condemn all such attacks. The perpetrators must be brought to justice but the attack should not be exploited to justify targeting of Chechens in Moscow and elsewhere in the Russian Federation,' Amnesty International stressed.

Background

According to press reports at least 46 people were killed and many were wounded when two vehicles packed with explosives smashed into the main building of the Moscow-backed Chechen administration in Grozny on 27 December 2002. Chechen fighters claimed responsibility on their website for the attack.