Duma assails Russia8217;s suspension

MOSCOW, APRIL 12: The State Duma, lower House of Parliament, overwhelmingly passed a resolution after a stormy debate today denouncing las...

MOSCOW, APRIL 12: The State Duma, lower House of Parliament, overwhelmingly passed a resolution after a stormy debate today denouncing last week8217;s vote by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe PACE to suspend Russia8217;s membership over alleged human rights abuses in the breakaway republic of Chechnya.

The resolution called the Parliamentary Assembly8217;s decision to suspend the Russian parliamentary delegation as 8220;groundless and unjustified8221;, terming it an 8220;unacceptable unilateral diktat8221;.

It urged the Parliamentary Assembly to rescind the decision. 8220;The resumption of Russia8217;s full cooperation will be possible only after the discriminatory decision was re-examined,8221; the resolution emphasised.

The resolution came as a delegation of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe OSCE was due in Moscow to urge Russia to soften its stance over Chechnya.

The delegation will be led by Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who will meet Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin on the issue.

Ferrero-Waldner is expected to persuade Putin to declare a ceasefire and open peace talks within Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov.

Ahead of Putin8217;s visit to London next Sunday, the Kremlin hinted yesterday that Russia might start political talks with Maskhadov, as the Chechen President distanced himself from other warlords.

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In a telephone interview with Deutsche Welle Radio on Monday, Maskhadov blamed the war in Chechnya on field commander Shamil Basayev and his ally Movladi Udugov.

Putin8217;s special envoy on the Chechen military campaign, Sergei Yastrzhembsky, told mediapersons during a trip to Uzbekistan yesterday that 8220;certain political process8221; was now possible between Maskhadov, Interfax news agency reported.

8220;It is absolutely obvious that the Russian Government must maintain contacts with Maskhadov, and they have been maintained with certain of Maskhadov8217;s representatives8221; through North Ossetian President Alexander Dzasokhov and Ingush President Ruslan Aushev, Itar-Tass quoted Yastrzhembsky as saying.

Earlier the Kremlin had charged Maskhadov with insurgency and the Prosecutor General8217;s Office issued a warrant to arrest him.

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Putin has so far not stated whether Russia plans possible peace talks with Maskhadov. Earlier, he had demanded that Maskhadov should unconditionally surrender before the law enforcement authorities.

Russian media reported that Putin had been offended by moves this week to censure Russia at the Geneva-based UNHRC, where the European Union and the US have increased pressure on Russia over Chechnya, calling on Moscow to conduct an inquiry into the alleged mass killings.

The EU, backed by Canada, has tabled a critical resolution calling on Russia to set up an inquiry commission, to cooperate with the international community and admit human rights investigators to establish what has really happened in Chechnya.