Ella Pamfilova: situation in refugee camps in Ingushetia changed for better

Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on March 25, US diplomat Douglas Davidson said: "The United States urges Russian federal and local authorities to support voluntary returns to Chechnya and to provide alternative shelter for IDPs [internally displaced persons] who wish to remain in Ingushetia."

In his address, the US diplomat referred to "the report issued on February 9 by Ms. Pamfilova, President Putin's own representative on the humanitarian situation in the North Caucasus."

Thereupon, Chairwoman of the Russian President's Human Rights Commission Ella Pamfilova issued a statement, in which she said the situation with refugee camps had considerably changed for the last two months."

"In particular, the problem of the resettlement of IDPs who want to stay in Ingushetia has been solved. They will move from tents to more comfortable quarters mounted by the international organization Doctors Without Borders. The commission is ready to officially furnish any international body at its instance with more detailed information and its conclusions regarding the present situation with IDPs from the Chechen Republic in order to avoid misunderstanding and free interpretation of its conclusions.

The commission is going to continue regular public control aimed at preventing any forms of pressure and arbitrariness with respect to IDPs from the Chechen Republic," reads Ella Pamfilova's statement.