Sweden justifies Russian war crimes

[15 januari 2006] The Swedish and Russian military forces are organising a joint military exercise January 19 through 26 in Northern Sweden. The Swedish authorities describe the exercise as a peace keeping operation authorized by the UN. Russian defence minister Sergej Ivanov talks about 'training in fighting terrorists', which inevitably makes one think of Chechnya.

The war in Chechnya has been going on for more than six years and is from a human rights point of view one of the most horrific conflicts of our time. Chechnyan civilians are constantly subjected to brutal torture, disappearances and murder. Russian soldiers have since the beginning of the war been exempted from retribution for brutal atrocities. The Human Rights organisation Human Rights Watch talks about an ongoing 'crime against humanity'.

The 138th brigade coming to Sweden has in the past been stationed in Chechnya, where they, like most other units, committed severe war crimes. Several cases are well documented by the Russian human rights organisation Memorial.

In addition, Colonel General Igor Puzanov, who is responsible for the cooperation with the Swedish military, is one of Russia's highest ranked militaries and thereby one of those directly responsible for what is happening in Chechnya.

In international contexts Sweden would like to appear as an advocate for human rights. Protection of human rights, it says in several important documents, shall be incorporated in the foreign policy in all its parts. From time to time Swedish government representatives express their concern regarding the situation in Chechnya. But in practice the government is acting in a way that gives legitimacy to atrocities and war crimes.

The Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights and the Swedish Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights are protesting in an article in Svenska Dagbladet (Brännpunkt, Jan. 15) against the double standards in Swedish foreign policy. If the Swedish government is serious regarding its engagement for human rights, they should insist that soldiers who commit war crimes - and commanding officers who do nothing to stop them - be put on trial. In the meantime any potential military cooperation between Sweden and Russia should be restricted to issues connected to international law and human rights.


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