Red Cross allowed into Russian detention camps
MOSCOW, Mar 31, 2000 -- (Reuters) President-elect Vladimir Putin gave the go-ahead on Thursday for the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit Russian detention centers including a much-criticized camp in breakaway Chechnya.Russia has been called upon to open the centers so international observers can look into reports of torture and beatings, especially at the Chernokozovo camp north of Chechnya's devastated capital Grozny.
Interfax news agency quoted Sergei Yastrzhembsky, Russia's main spokesman on Chechnya, as saying that Putin had allowed the Geneva-based ICRC access to detention centers after a meeting with ICRC president Jakob Kellenberger.
"On Putin's initiative, the Red Cross's request about access to those held in the detention center in Chechnya was widened, and in that sense the Red Cross received access to those held in all detention centers on Russian territory," Interfax quoted Yastrzhembsky as saying.
Putin, who won a recent presidential election largely due to his uncompromising stance on Chechnya, has allowed organizations into the rebel region under supervision to try and deflect Western leaders' criticism of the campaign.
Western leaders, who muted criticism of the campaign before Sunday's vote in an effort to keep relations with Putin on an even keel, have sent clear signals since the vote that they now want a swift change of policy in Chechnya.
Kellenberger, who earlier met Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, said the Red Cross would provide humanitarian aid to 30,000 residents in Chechnya.
Thousands of refugees have begun returning to the rebel region, much of which lies in ruins after Russia's six-month-old military campaign against Chechen separatists.
The Russian Red Cross provides food, clothing and medicines to Russians in many of the country's far flung regions.
Earlier Kellenberger urged Moscow to provide more help for those suffering from the war.
"The Russian Red Cross and the ICRC are already among the main actors in helping the victims of the conflict in the surrounding republics of Chechnya," said Kellenberger. He said the organization provided 20 percent of all humanitarian aid.