Chechnya Peace Forum

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	Background

The Chechnya Peace Forum was established in London in 2006. Our mission is to promote peacefully the cause of democracy, the rule of law, peace and human rights in Chechnya, with the hope of encouraging a new negotiated settlement between the Russian Government and the resistance movement. The Chechnya Peace Forum believes lasting peace can only be achieved if the Chechens’ right to self-determination is recognised through free and fair elections, and the spirit of the 1992 Constitution upheld. Ivar Amundsen is the Director of the Chechnya Peace Forum, an active campaigner in the human rights arena for many years, not least in Bosnia during the early 1990s. Dividing his time between Norway and the UK, this formal initiative in London seeks to unite with other human rights activists to help the oppressed people of Chechnya.

	Why the situation in Chechnya is of concern?


The Russians have fought two wars in Chechnya since 1994. Whilst the Kremlin claims there is now peace and stability in the region the reality is that the intensive bombing has been replaced with a regime of fear and oppression. An extensive rebuilding programme in Grozny in absence of the rule of law and free and fair elections do little to restore justice and respect for human rights. The systematic abuse of power by Moscow imposed Ramzan Kadyrov ensures Chechen civilians have no avenues to seek justice for the daily crimes they suffer in the knowledge that secret torture chambers remain and critics are silenced. Russia’s posturing on the world stage shows the international community remains blissfully ignorant at it’s peril.