12:32, 5 April 2005

Maskhadov may have been trapped 'internationally'

There are facts that the Ichkeria president Aslan Maskhadov was killed through imitation of the Russian government's readiness to hold talks on political settlement of the armed conflict in Chechnya, says the Council of Non-governmental Organisations. This can be confirmed by one of Maskhadov's last interviews he gave shortly before his death. A number of NGOs have a video cassette with his interview in Chechen.

In this interview the Ichkeria president speaks about some forthcoming peace talks with Russia. In doing so, he also mentions the countries that provided mediation, namely the foreign ministries of Germany and Switzerland. To some or other extent the talks were also expected to involve OSCE representatives. Aslan Maskhadov was informed about these proposals through his special representative Umar Khambiyev. Maskhadov speaks about the possible talks with the Russian party as practically a settled question. He also emphasises it was Russia that initiated it and several times calls on Chechen resistance leaders to observe the unilateral ceasefire he has announced to demonstrate good will and readiness for peace dialogue with the Russian party.

"Russian leaders have announced Aslan Maskhadov's death one of the best achievements of special services, although it is most likely to lead to an even bitterer confrontation and a dramatic upsurge in violence and terrorism. The majority of Chechnya's population which in 1997 elected Maskhadov president considers his death a national tragedy. Only fear of possible punitive and repressive measures prevents people from public expression of their views. The only thing open to question currently is about the degree of participation in the killing of the Ichkeria president and whether the action for his destruction was carried out with the knowledge and consent of the European states' leaders. At least those who, shortly before Aslan Maskhadov's death, performed as mediators between him and the Russian government," says the Council of Non-governmental Organisations.