Open letter of Moscow Helsinki Group Chairwoman, member of Commission on Human Rights under Russian President

Open letter of Moscow Helsinki Group Chairwoman, the member of the Commission on Human Rights under the President of Russia Lyudmila Alekseyeva

Dear colleagues!

Now the Commission is discussing the possibility to conduct an observation of the elections in Chechnya under the aegis of the Commission and by human rights activists' strength. the MHG, from its part, finds this initiative to be of vital importance.

On the one hand, we are sure that it is impossible to hold honest elections in Chechnya, but, from the other hand, we cannot but answer the requests for help coming from our Chechen and Ingush colleagues.

If you want to support this initiative and find it possible to take part in a first-hand observation of the course of the elections that will be held in the Chechen Republic on October 5, 2003, then promptly send us a preliminary list of possible observers: initials, region, organization, contact information, year of birth (not younger than 21).

If there are enough volunteers from the regions to conduct a representational observation, the Commission on Human Rights will do its utmost to finance this action.

While deciding on participation in this initiative, please, take into consideration the factor of a high personal risk of such a work in the region, which is actually a war zone.

A departure for Chechnya is preliminary planned for a period of 3 days, with living in tent camps. The question of protection is not settled at the present moment.

Moscow Helsinki Group Chairwoman

Lyudmila Alekseyeva