Russia May Extend Deadline of Amnesty for Chechen Rebels

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, August 01, 2003

Russia May Extend Deadline of Amnesty for Chechen Rebels

The amnesty that announced for Chechen rebels will probably be extended, Chechnya's Prosecutor Vladimir Kravchenko said Thursday.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The amnesty that announced for Chechen rebels will probably be extended, Chechnya's Prosecutor Vladimir Kravchenko said Thursday.

At present, 89 former rebels have already been amnestied and another 111 have submitted written amnesty requests, Kravchenko said.

"Every person who has put down arms and abandoned illegal activities is important for us," Kravchenko was quoted by Interfaxas saying.

The amnesty, which took effect on June 6 and will expire on Sept.1, aims to advance peace in Chechnya, a war-torn republic in Russia's Northern Caucasus. It followed a March referendum in which Chechens approved a Kremlin-backed constitution that cemented the region's status as part of Russia.

The amnesty offers immunity from prosecution to rebels who give up their weapons and also applies to federal troops in Chechnya, who are suspected of abuses against civilians.

But the bill will not be granted to those who have committed grave crimes like murder, kidnapping, rape and assault, as well asforeigners and people without citizenship.

Despite the amnesty, the clashes between Russian servicemen andChechen rebels are continuing. Over the past 24 hours 33 rebels were killed in Chechnya, Itar-Tass quoted military officials as saying.

Chechnya, a war-torn republic in Russia's Northern Caucasus, won de-facto independent status in 1996 after Russia pulled out troops from it. Russian troops re-entered the lawless region in September 1999 following attacks by Chechen-based fighters in a neighboring region and a series of deadly bombings blamed on the rebels.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Female Suicide Bombers Kill 17 in Moscow

Russia blames Chechen rebels on Moscow blasts

12 Soldiers Killed in Chechnya

Taiwan Ties Mar Japan's China Interests: News Analysis ( 36 Messages)

Shortage of Electric Power, an Ordeal for China's Economy ( 4 Messages)

Using "E-mail" Concerns Chinese Purification & National Dignity? ( 22 Messages)

US, China Co-operate to Fight Taiwan Referendum Plan ( 3 Messages)

60 Chinese Senior Officials to Be Trained in Harvard University ( 3 Messages)