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“All human beings are born free and equal

in dignity and rights.”

- Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Human Rights in the North Caucasus

Date: 
Friday, April 15, 2011 - 10:00am
Location: 
Room 2168 of the Rayburn House Office Building

Announcement

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing human rights in the North Caucasus, an area that includes the territories of Chechnya, Dagestan, and Ingushetia, among others. In this volatile region-often considered the border between Europe and Asia-terrorism has intensified in recent years. In January 2011, at least 35 people were killed by North Caucasus-linked extremists in the tragic suicide bombing of the Domodedovo Airport in Moscow.

This hearing will examine the international legal framework for counterterrorism and evaluate Russia's compliance with that framework through its operations in the North Caucasus. The hearing will address whether the Russian government may be exacerbating the terrorist threat by failing to protect human rights, notably the prohibition against torture and the rights to liberty and security of person, and how such actions may contribute to radicalizing insurgent groups. The hearing will also review how Islamic radicalization impinges on freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and women's rights.

If you have any questions, please contact Ari Levin (Rep. McGovern) or Elizabeth Hoffman (Rep. Wolf) at 202-225-8097.

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern, Member of Congress and Co-Chair, TLHRC
Frank R. Wolf, Member of Congress and Co-Chair, TLHRC

Witnesses

Panel I

  • Martin Scheinin, UN Special Rapporteur on Counterterrorism and Human Rights

Panel II

  • Sacha Koulaeva, Head of Europe and Central Asia desk, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
  • Miriam Lanskoy, Russia and Eurasia Director, National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
  • Dokka Itslaev, Coordinator for Chechnya, Human Rights Center Memorial
  • Ali Israilov, victim of human rights abuse in Chechnya

Testimonies

Martin Scheinin, Human Rights in the North Caucasus 
Sacha Koulaeva, Human Rights in the North Caucasus  
Miriam Lanskoy, Human Rights in the North Caucasus  
Dokka Itslaev, Human Rights in the North Caucasus 
Ali Israilov, Human Rights in the North Caucasus

Transcript

Transcript 

Video

112th Congress