The Russian government accused UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson of "completely misunderstanding" the current situation in Chechnya on November 17.

The comment was made in response to Robinson's statement Tuesday in Geneva that serious violations of individual rights and humanitarian laws have taken place in the breakaway republic of Chechnya, the Interfax news agency reported.

"This statement by Mary Robinson demonstrates her lack of understanding of the current situation in Chechnya," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Our impression is that the high commissioner is influenced by the forces that are putting pressure on Russia in connection with the events in the North Caucasus," the statement said.

"Robinson kept silent while militants committed massive and gross violations of human rights. They took hostages, conducted executions, engaged in slave trading, and dealt in torture and murder," it added.

It also said that the high commissioner "did not respond to the bombings in Moscow, Buinaksk and Volgodonsk," which killed some 300 people.

The statement vowed that "the Russian authorities must fight terrorists and bandits," criticizing Robinson of giving "a statement on the basis of obviously distorted information."

The UN secretary general's special representative Sadako Ogata is expected to visit the region in the near future.

Ogata, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Wednesday met with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. She will also meet Prime Minister Vladimir Putin later in the day.

Ivanov said Ogata would visit Chechen territory controlled by the federal authorities.

Moscow hopes that Ogata's trip to the North Caucasus, including Chechnya and Ingushetia, will help her "assess the situation in this region objectively and coordinate humanitarian relief for this region through UN agencies," Ivanov said.

He said Russia is prepared to brief the UN and the international society the actual situation in the North Caucasus, adding that "there is nothing to conceal. Our policy is open and clear."