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Russian human rights organizations presented their report on the violations of conscripts’ rights in 2004. The Russian Coalition for non governmental organization “For a democratic alternative civil service” and The Union of the Soldiers Mothers Committees of the Russian Federation took part in writing this paper based on documented proof. These organizations verified the fact, that in spite of the measures, which the Ministry of Defence undertook, the quantity of the violations of the law rose. (16-APR-05)

A Parliamentary Assembly Round Table of the European Council took place in Strasburg on 23 of March. The list of the Council members was compiled by Andreas Gross, a member of the European Council from Switzerland and representatives of the Russian State Duma. They made the decision not to include any representatives of Aslan Maskhadov (Chechen separatist leader, who was killed earlier this month), who didn’t recognize the integrity of Russian Federation. Mr. Gross invited Akhmed Zakaev, (rebel envoy) to participate on the side of the separatists, but he refused. (02-APR-05)
 

Over the period of December 10-14, 2004 hundreds of people were subject to assault and torture. Residents of the small Bashkirian town Blagoveschensk and its surroundings, were taken from the streets, bars, discos and even their homes without any explanations and brought to the local police station. The police used their night-sticks and severely beat those who asked questions. After several hours in the police station, a lot of the fearful people were brought to the hospital. (29-MAR-05)
 

The accusations against the director of the Andrey Sakharov Museum and Public Center and his employees, who organized an exhibition ‘Attention, Religion’, entered the final phase. The procurator is demanding a 3 to 5 year sentence as well as banning him from any future professional activities.The decision will be given on 28 of March. Vastlav Gavel, Amnesty International and Russian Research Center for Human Rights defend the Sakharov Center. (27-MAR-05)

Maskhadov’s death could lead to an escalation of the conflict in the Chechen Republic and spread the military actions, said Liubov Vinogradova (picture) from the Russian Research Center for Human Rights in Moscow. The Soldiers Mothers´ Committee hopes to continue negotiations once a new Chechen leader appears. (10-MAR-05)

Russia’s Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov has said that the registered number of crimes in the country underestimated the real number by three times. Speaking at a State Duma session on Wednesday, he said that there were not the 2.9 million crimes in the Russian Federation, but something more like 9-12 million. (10-MAR-2005)
 

The George Elser award 2005 is granted  to the Union of committees of soldier´s mothers of the Russian Federation. Jury decision is noted that the Russian public organization is awarded for the efforts directed on the war termination  in Chechen Republic. (10-MAR-05)
 

Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov was killed  on Tuesday, Russian army spokesman Ilya Shabalkin said (09-MAR-2005).

Valentina Melnikova, the chairperson of the new party “Soldiers’ Mothers” told Gazeta.ru why there was a need for the party and of the importance of a peace settlement in the Chechen Republic. While liberal parties are trying — in vain, it must be said — to forge a coalition, a party of a new type is being established in the Russian Federation. The United People’s Party of Soldiers’ Mothers belongs neither to the right nor to the left wing. Public opinion polls held by the Levada Center in October showed that 72 percent of respondents approved of the activities of the Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers. (09-MAR-05)