Human rights violations in Chechnya to be investigated

November 1, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on the establishment of a mission of experts to report on allegations of human rights violations and abuses in Chechnya:

“Canada condemns the serious human rights violations and abuses against LGBTI people in Chechnya. In light of Russia’s repeated failure to address the questions raised by Canada and 15 other Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) States last August, we have invoked the OSCE Moscow Mechanism to initiate a fact-finding mission of experts to address these violations and abuses, dating back to January 2017.

“In addition to establishing and reporting on the facts, we encourage the mission of experts to give advice to the Russian Federation, the OSCE, and the international community on possible solutions to the questions raised. Inaction in this situation contributes to a climate of impunity for human rights abusers.” 

Associated links

• Statement by Ambassador Natasha Cayer on the situation of human rights in Chechnya, August 30, 2018