A war is being conducted in the Caucus. Chechens are dying, Russians are dying.

There are reasons to believe that genocide is taking place right before the eyes of the entire world.

While the public opinion is being manipulated, under the pretext of hunting down terrorists, a nation is being murdered.

Conducting military operations against the civilian citizens of your own country is a crime against all of humanity.

There is also a terrible suspicion that the aim of this slaughter is associated with the short-term political interests of a small group of people.

Since the outbreak of this war, the Helsinki Committee in Poland has undertaken, alone and together with committees from 39 other countries, many various actions associated with this issue, by addressing, among others, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Walter Schimmer, President Clinton and President Jelcyn.

However, innocent people are still dying in Chechnya, and the loans granted to Russia burden the conscience of western taxpayers.

We will continue to seek legal and political means to end this terrible crime as quickly as possible.

Warsaw, January 7, 2000.

On behalf of the members of the
Helsinki Committee in Poland

Marek Nowicki

see also: Helsinki Committee in Poland, members of the Helsinki Committee in Poland, the Helsinki Committee’s Declarations