ICJ condemns Russia’s revanchist war in Chechnya
Today, the ICJ firmly condemned the use of force by the Russian army against civilian targets in and around Grozny, in Chechnya.
Jurists gravely concerned by the illegal use of force in the West Bank and Gaza
The ICJ is gravely concerned by the indiscriminate and excessive use of force against Palestinians within the Palestinian Autonomous Areas.
Approving the Council of Europe’s bar on Russia’s entry, the ICJ condemns human rights violations in Chechnya
Today, the ICJ approved the decision of the Council of Europe to impose a sine die bar on Russia’s application to join the organization.
The ICJ stated that Russia’s application to join the Council of Europe is incompatible with the measures applied by its armed forces against non-combatants in Chechnya which violate both the European Convention on Human Rights and the Geneva Conventions.
The ICJ is concerned by reports of a growing number of international observers present in the region of Grozny, that systematic torture and beatings, as well as mock executions of Chechen prisoners, including civilians, are being carried-out by the Russian forces in Chechnya. Similarly, some reports seem to indicate that a number of dead bodies of Russian soldiers also showed signs of torture. Until these reports are verified, Russia’s membership application to the Council of Europe should be frozen.
The ICJ has already condemned the outrageous massive bombing of civilian targets in and around Grozny which has resulted in the death of thousands of non-combatants. The ICJ condemns the disproportionate use of force exerted on a daily basis by the Russian army since the beginning of the hostilities seven weeks ago.
The ICJ believes that the acceptance of Russia as a member State of the Council of Europe without proper consideration of the behaviour of its agents in Chechnya would result in the dampening of the European Convention on Human Rights and damaging of the credibility of the Council of Europe, an organization reputed for its promotion of the Rule of Law.
Jurists denounce excessive use of force
Today, the ICJ denounced the indiscriminate use of force by the Russian army against civilian targets in and around Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic, which caused the death of hundreds of civilians.
Jurists denounce lethal weapons for crowd control In Gaza
Today, the ICJ condemned the shooting of demonstrators with lethal firearms, which caused the death of at least 14 Palestinians and injured 200 others.
Even when demonstrators throw stones at the security forces, the practice in countries shows that it is neither necessary nor permissible to use lethal weapons against them.
All violence used in self-defence must be necessary and proportionate to the violence used or the threat of violence. Stone-throwing rioters can be quelled by the use of water-hoses and other non-lethal measures, and the security forces can be protected with helmets and shields, The bloody events in Gaza are the consequence of a serious violation by the Palestinian Police of international and local standards.
The ICJ welcomes the establishment of a judicial Committee of Inquiry to investigate the details of the tragic incident in Gaza on 18 November 1994. Furthermore, the ICJ calls upon the Palestinian Authority to refrain from the use of lethal and indiscriminate force against civilians and to bring the actions of their agents into conformity with accepted international standards.