Rights group voices concern about Chechnya

BRUSSELS: An alliance of human rights groups urged the European Union on Wednesday to use a broad economic and security partnership accord it plans to sign with Russia next week to pressure Moscow to halt abuses in Chechnya and elsewhere in Russia. The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights said the EU should use the partnership agreement “to press for an end to the vicious cycle of human rights violations in Chechnya,” where Russian forces are battling separatist rebels. IHF Director Aaron Rhodes said in a telephone interview, “What the EU can do is end the abuses by Russian security forces in Chechnya and bring to justice those who have committed those abuses. ” ap

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