UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 U N CLASSi1'IED PTQ0702 RELEASED IN FULL LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PTQ0702 PAGE 01 ACTION EUR-01 USVIEN INFO AMAD-01 ADS-00 LOG-00 INR-00 NISC-01 01299 01 OF 03 CIAE-00 NSAE-00 081438Z OASY-00 OCS-06 DODE-00 SSO-00 FBIE-00 SS-00 TEDE-00 SNIS-00 009W ------------------C34C67 O 08144OZ MAY 95 FM USMISSION USVIENNA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8845 INFO AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY RIGA AMEMBASSY VILNIUS AMEMBASSY TALLINN EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE CIS COLLECTIVE 081439Z 38 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 03 USVIENNA 001299 DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO PRESIDENT'S PARTY DEPT FOR EUR - KORNBLUM AND S NIS - COLLINS ALSO EUR RPM AND EUR RUS GENEVA FOR USMISSION FROM USDEL OSCE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 E O 12356 USVIEN NA 01299 01 OF 03 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY THEODORE SELLIN DATE CASE ID 08 OCT 2009 200901541 081438Z UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 E16 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 TAGS CASC PREL RS SUBJECT OSCE AND CHECHNYA PROGRESS PRIOR TO MAY 9 UNCLASSIFIED o JRTS OSCE AJJJ JJCJL w r ON 1 THE OSCE ASSISTANCE GROUP HAS FORWARDED TO SUMMARY DELEGATIONS A REPORT ON ITS ACTIVITIES WITH A VIEW TO THE MAY 9 MEETINGS IN MOSCOW OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT THE HEAD OF THE ASSISTANCE GROUP AMBASSADOR MESZAROS REPORTS THAT MILITARY ACTIVITIES CONTINUE TO TAKE PLACE DESPITE THE MORATORIUM THIS INCLUDED SHELLING AND BOMBARDMENT BY FEDERAL FORCES MESZAROS ALSO REPORTS RUMORS THAT DUDAYEV'S FORCES ARE PREPARING MILITARY ACTION TO COINCIDE WITH VICTORY DAY CELEBRATIONS 9 MAY END SUMly ARY 2 BEGIN TEXT SUMMARY 1 MILITARY ACTIVITIES ARE TAKING PLACE DESPITE THE MORATORIUM PROCLAIMED BY PRESIDENT YELTSIN IN OUR OBSERVATION THESE INCLUDE SHELLING AND AERIAL BOMBARDMENT BY FEDERAL FORCES OF TOWNS HELD BY THE DUDAYEV SIDE AND HEAVY ARTILLERY AND SMALL ARMS FIRE AUDIBLE IN GROZNY AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE 30 APRIL TO ASSASSINATE UMAR AVTURKHANOV HEAD OF THE COMMITTEE OF NATIONAL ACCORD RUMORS ABOUND THAT DUDAYEV'S FORCES ARE PREPARING MILITARY ACTION TO COINCIDE WITH VICTORY DAY CELEBRATIONS 9 MAY 2 THE ASSISTANCE GROUP IS CONTINUING ITS EFFORTS TO FACILITATE ROUND-TABLE TALKS AMONG ALL CONCERNED PARTIES WHILE ALL WELCOME LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 USVIEN 01299 01 OF 03 081438Z OUR EFFORTS OBSTACLES REMAIN WE ARE RECEIVING CONTINUED COMPLAINTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS INCLUDING DETENTION OF YOUTHS A VISIT TO SAMASHKI INDICATED THAT THE DESTRUCTION COMMITTED THERE ON APRIL 7-8 WAS NOT PART OF A MILITARY ACTION BUT WAS INSTEAD DELIBERATE DESTRUCTION OF CIVILIAN HOMES THERE ARE STILL MANY UNMET HUMANITARIAN NEEDS INSIDE GROZNY SECURITY SITUATION UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 3 MILITARY ACTIVITIES WE HAVE OBSERVED FALL INTO TWO Ulv 1 x3 CATEGORIES THE FIRST INVOLVES SHELLING AND AERIAL BOMBARDMENT OF AREAS HELD BY THE DUDAYEV SIDE WE HAVE OBSERVED SHELLING AND AERIAL BOMBARDMENT OF BAMUT OREKLOVO SERZHEN-YURT AVTURI AND IN THE VICINITY OF VEDENO ON 5 MAY WE SAW AT CLOSE RANGE 4 FIXED WING GROUND ATTACK AIRCRAFT BOMBING NEAR SERZHEN-YURT DUDAYEV FORCES SHOT DOWN ONE OF THEM WHOSE WRECKAGE WE WERE ABLE TO INSPECT THE NEXT DAY ON THE ROAD BETWEEN BENEY AND TSA-VEDENO jLr i D 4 THE SECOND CATEGORY AT NIGHT INVOLVES SMALL ARMS FIRE WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY HEAVY ARTILLERY ILLUMINATION SHELLS AND HEAVY MACHINE GUNS FEDERAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES CLAIM THAT IN GROZNY MUCH OF THE SMALL ARMS FIRE IS DIRECTED AT THE BUILDING WHICH HOUSES THEM BOTH BUT THERE ARE INCIDENTS'ALSO IN DISTRICT REGIONAL COMMANDS AND THE AIRPORT FEDERAL MILITARY COMMANDERS TOLD US ON MAY 3 THAT THERE WERE TO THAT DATE 33 INCIDENTS PROVOKED BY DUDAYEV S FORCES SINCE THE MORATORIUM BEGAN OUTSIDE GROZNY FEDERAL FORCES HAVE SET UP STRONGPOINTS OUTSIDE TOWNS AND VILLAGES AND AT ROAD JUNCTIONS AND HAVE TOLD US THAT FIRING TAKES PLACE AT NIGHT AT THESE POINTS AS WELL APPARENTLY FEDERAL FORCES OFTEN FEELING THREATENED AT NIGHT REACT STRONGLY LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 USVIEN 01299 01 OF 03 0814382 5 EVIDENCE IS COMPELLING THAT FEDERAL HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS ATTACKED THE VILLAGE OF SHALAZHI IN WESTERN CHECHNYA ON MAY 1 WITH THE LOSS OF LIVES AND A NUMBER OF WOUNDED SHALAZHI WAS_A BULWARK OF OPPOSITION TO DUDAYEV DURING HIS TIME IN POWER IN THE GROZNY AND WELCOMED THE NEW AVTURKHANOV HAJIYEV GOVERNMENT VILLAGERS WERE THUS AT A LOSS TO KNOW WHY THEY WERE ATTACKED SHALAZHI IS 2 OR 3 KILOMETERS FROM YANDI ALSO KNOWN AS OREKHOVO A SEPARATIST STRONGHOLD IN ANOTHER INCIDENT ON MAY 5 A FEDERAL ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER ATTACKED A CIVILIAN AUTOMOBILE IN THE KALMIN DISTRICT OF GROZNY KILLING THREE A GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED COMPOSED OF FEDERAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO DEAL WITH SUCH INCIDENTS AND REFER THE CASE TO THE FEDERAL MILITARY PROSECUTOR AS IN THE SAMASHKI AND GUDERMES INCIDENTS IF THE FACTS WARRANT IT 6 THE DUDAYEV SIDE HAS THREATENED MASSIVE MILITARY ACTION IN GROZNY ON 9 MAY THE HOLIDAY COMMEMORATING VICTORY IN EUROPE FEDERAL FORCES ARE ENGAGED IN HIGH-PROFILE MILITARY MOVEMENTS TO UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 UNCLASSIFIED LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNPTQ0704 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PTQ0704 PAGE 01 ACTION EUR-01 USVIEN INFO LOG-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 OASY-00 DODE-00 FBIE-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OCS-06 SSO-00 SS-00 SNIS-00 NISC-01 010W ------------------C34C7B 01299 02 OF 03 081439Z 081439Z 38 O 081440Z MAY 95 FM USMISSION USVIENNA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8846 INFO AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY RIGA AMEMBASSY VILNIUS AMEMBASSY TALLINN EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE CIS COLLECTIVE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 02 OF 03 USVIENNA 001299 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 DEPARTMENT' PLEASE PASS TO PRE S IDENZ UNC LASS IFIED DEPT FOR EUR - KORNBLUM AND S NIS - COLLINS ALSO EUR RPM AND EUR RUS GENEVA FOR USMISSION FROM USDEL OSCE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 USVIEN 01299 E O 12356 NA TAGS CASC PREL RS SUBJECT OSCE AND CHECHNYA PROGRESS PRIOR TO MAY 9 02 OF 03 081439Z OSCE ASSISTANCE GROUP REPORTS ON COUNTER THESE THREATS AND AN OFFICIAL CURFEW WAS ESTABLISHED FROM 9PM TO 6AM IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE CHIEF STEPASHIN VISITED GROZNY RECENTLY SENIOR AVTURKHANOV HAJIYEV OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD US THEY HAVE RECEIVED DEATH THREATS RECENTLY AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT WAS MADE 30 APRIL ON UMAR AVTURKHANOV CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF NATIONAL ACCORD HIS CAR WAS AMBUSHED AS IT TRAVELED FROM HIS HOME IN ZNAMENSKOYE TO GROZNY AVTURKHANOV WAS NOT HOWEVER IN THE CAR AT THE TIME HE HAD LENT THE VEHICLE TO HIS BROTHER THE ACTING HEAD OF CUSTOMS THREE BODYGUARDS WERE WOUNDED IN THE INCIDENT 7 AVTURKHANOV INTENDS TO PRESIDE AT A WREATHLAYING CEREMONY IN GROZNY ON 9 MAY TO COMMEMORATE THE ALLIED VICTORY IN EUROPE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR RUMORS ABOUND IN GROZNY THAT THE CEREMONY WILL BE THE TARGET OF AN ATTACK BY DUDAYEV FORCES POLITICAL SITUATION 8 FEDERAL COMMANDER TROSHCHEV DID NOT ATTEND TALKS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN NOVYYE ATAGI 4 MAY WITH DUDAYEV COMMANDER MASKHADOV 9 THE ASSISTANCE GROUP IS CONTINUING ITS EFFORTS TO FACILITATE TALKS BETWEEN THE CONCERNED PARTIES WE HAVE NOW MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL SIDES ALL HAVE ENCOURAGED THE GROUPS UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06119 2013 EFFORTS THERE ARE STILL OBSTACLES TO THE CONVENING OF SUCH LIMITED OFFICIAL USE UNCLASSIFIED LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 USVIEN 01299 02 OF 03 0814392 TALKS ESPECIALLY IN GAINING DUDAYEV'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE PARTICIPATION OF THE AVTURKHANOV HAJIYEV SIDE THIS SIDE FOR ITS PART STRESSES ITS NEED TO PARTICIPATE AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NONCOMBATANT CIVILIAN POPULATION THE MAY 12 EXPIRATION OF THE MORATORIUM IMPERFECTLY OBSERVED THOUGH IT HAS BEEN PRESENTS THE DANGER OF FULL SCALE MILITARY ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD MAKE THE ACCEPTANCE OF TALKS STILL MORE DIFFICULT HUMAN RIGHTS 10 IN ANTICIPATION OF ACTIONS MAY 9 THERE ARE CLAIMS THAT FEDERAL FORCES HAVE STEPPED UP THE CAMPAIGN TO DETAIN YOUNG MEN ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEIR AGE GROUP PROVIDES THE BULK OF THE DUDAYEVFIGHTERS SOME OF THESE HAVE TURNED UP IN FILTRATION CAMPS THERE SEEM TO BE TWO SUCH CAMPS IN GROZNY THE ASSISTANCE GROUP HAS BEEN APPROACHED SEVERAL TIMES TO HELP TO FIND MISSING PERSNS FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE ALLEGED BEATING AND INHUMAN TREATMENT OF DETAINEES I HAVE REQUESTED ACCESS TO FILTRATION CAMPS FROM GENERAL SHUMOV SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS IN CHECHNYA HE AGREED TO MY REQUEST AND I INTEND TO VISIT CAMPS IN THE NEAR FUTURE 11 MEMBERS OF THE GROUP 7 MAY VISITED SAMASHKI SITE OF A 28 APRIL ATTACK BY FEDERAL FORCES PHYSICAL EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT SOME HOUSES ON THE OUTSKIRT OF TOWN WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF BOMBARDMENT HOWEVER INSIDE THE TOWN WELL OVER A HUNDRED HOUSES BORE NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE ORIGINATING EXTERNALLY RATHER THEY WERE BURNED BY FIRES SET FROM WITHIN TRACES OF HAND GRENADES EXPLODING INDOORS COULD ALSO BE OBSERVED IN MANY HOUSES THE EVIDENCE IS CONSONANT WITH ALLEGATIONS MADE BY LOCAL RESIDENTS LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 USVIEN 01299 02 OF VJ VViZJJ4 THAT FEDERAL TROOPS OCCUPIED THE VILLAGE WITHOUT MEETING RESISTANCE BUT BURNED AND DESTROYED THE HOUSES AFTER LOOTING THEM WITH GREAT LOSS OF LIFE A VILLAGE ELDER WE TALKED WITH WHO PARTICIPATED IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH FEDERAL FORCES SAID NEGOTIATIONS WERE HELD AS LATE AS THE MORNING OF 27 APRIL HE STATED THAT ON THE INSISTENCE OF THE ELDERS ALL DUDAYEV FIGHTERS NUMBERING 200 - HAD LEFT THE TOWN IN THE PREVIOUS DAYS HUMANITARIAN AIDS 12 THE GROUP HAS RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR URGENT HELP FROM THE FORMER FIRST CITY HOSPITAL WHICH WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED ON DECEMBER 1 1994 THERE IS A DISPUTE OVER THE BUILDING THE LOCAL AUTHORITY HAS PROMISED THE HOSPITAL THERE IS NO MEDICINE AND THERE IS NO EQUIPMENT THE STAFF OF 400 IS ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE URGENT ASSISTANCE BY MAKING MOBILE ROUNDS OF THE CITY 13 REPRESENTATIVES OF SEVERAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNNPTQ0705 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PTQ0705 UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-0154t 1 Doc No 017551215 Date 06 19 2013 PAGE 01 ACTION EUR-01 INFO USVIEN 01299 03 OFU NC LASSIFIED LOG-00 INR-00 NISC-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 OASY-00 DODE-00 FBIE-00 ADS-00 NSAB-00 OCS-06 SSO-00 SS-00 009W ------------------C34C7C 0814392 38 O 0814402 MAY 95 FM USMISSION USVIENNA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8847 INFO AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY RIGA AMEMBASSY VILNIUS AMEMBASSY TALLINN EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE CIS COLLECTIVE TEDE-00 SNIS-00 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 03 OF 03 USVIENNA 001299 DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO PRESIDENT'S PARTY DEPT FOR EUR - KORNBLUM AND S NIS - COLLINS ALSO EUR RPM AND EUR RUS GENEVA FOR USMISSION FROM USDEL OSCE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 E O 12356 USVIEN 01299 03 OF 03 081439Z NA TAGS CASC PREL RS SUBJECT OSCE AND CHECHNYA PROGRESS PRIOR TO MAY 9 OSCE ASSISTANCE GROUP REPORTS ON MET WITH CLAIM THEY ARE ABLE TO GET AID SHIPMENTS THROUGH WITHOUT UNDUE HINDRANCE AND DELIVER THEM TO THE POPULATION HOWEVER MANY LOCAL INHABITANTS WE HAVE TALKED WITH SAY INTERNATIONAL AID HAS BEEN SPORADIC OR NONEXISTENT THIS CLEARLY INDICATES THE UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 M UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 MAGNITUDE OF THE NEED AND THE REQUIREMENT FOR MORE HUMANITARIAN AID TO REACH THE REPUBLIC MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES WHO HAD BEEN UNDER SUSPICION OF HAVING TRANSPORTED ARMS IN ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES REPORTED TO US THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CLEARED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES END OF TEXT - UNCLASSIFIED BROWN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2009-01541 Doc No C17551215 Date 06 19 2013 This document is from the holdings of The National Security 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