| Russia's War In Chechnya is an Internal Armed Conflict Governed by International Conventions on War, Top Experts Say. |
|
|
| |
|
|
The Crimes of War Project has carried out an informal survey of international legal experts to etermine the applicability of the laws of war —international humanitarian law— to the conflict in Chechnya. In response, these experts submitted short written statements of their views. We found that there is general agreement among them that the situation in Chechnya is an internal armed conflict as defined in international law. As such, the laws of war apply to both Russian and Chechen forces. The conflict is not simply a "police" or "anti-terrorist" action as described by Russian authorities but one that brings into effect the laws of war. The Russian Federation ratified the Geneva Conventions of 1949 on May 10, 1954, and ratified Additional Protocol II on September 29, 1989. As a result, it is bound to observe the rules set forth in these treaties and conduct its military actions accordingly. This survey was carried out in the hope informing the debate on the conflict in Chechnya, and to draw attention to what may prove to be serious abuses of international humanitarian law. The replies to our survey received so far are posted below, and more will be added as they become available. Additional information and links are also posted here. Submit your comments. The opinions presented are those of the individuals and not of their respective institutions, and they are not writing as representatives of the Crimes of War Project. Please cite author and this web site for attribution. The Experts |