Russian Delegation to Abstain from Attending Duma-PACE Meeting on Chechnya

According to Dmitry Rogozin, Chairman of Russian Duma's Committee on International Affairs, the delegation of Russian parliamentarians will abstain from attending the next scheduled meeting of Duma-PACE workgroup looking into the possibilities of political settlement in Chechnya. The meeting was to take place in Strasburg, France, on November 7. This decision is directly related to the latest tragic events in Moscow.

Mr. Rogozin further said that, 'Co-Chairman of the workgroup Lord Judd has failed to make known his attitude as concerns the terrorist attack in Moscow, which makes us wonder'. This is especially hard to understand because the leaders of the European Parliament, European countries, and a large number of international organisation have expressed their support of Russia now that the country lives through such a difficult time. Mr. Rogozin believes that the position of Lord Jud who keeps insisting on immediate talks between Moscow and Chechen separatists is biased and betrays the lack of objectiveness, which makes any further cooperation between Russian and European parliamentarians as concerns settlement in Chechnya - very difficult.