(30 Dec 1994) Russian/Nat
Russian politicians, just back from a fact-finding trip to Grozny, have criticised their Government for failing to mount an effective humanitarian aid operation in Chechnya.
At a news conference in Moscow one State deputy was sharply critical of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations which is in charge of the relief effort. Leonid Petrovsky is on the human rights commission which has been viewing conditions in Grozny at first hand this week.
SOUNDBITE Russian:
"Their efforts are very ineffectual... Medical supplies are stockpiled away from Grozny, away from the villages, away from the hospitals...and not in the hospitals and as a result every day people are dying of infections like gangrene".
SUPERCAPTION: Leonid Petrovsky, Russian Member of Parliament
Last night Russia officially asked for emergency aid to be sent from abroad -- today the Kremlin proclaimed this man Valentin Kovalov is to chair a temporary commission to uphold civil rights in Chechnya. Ironically the biggest breach of those rights is coming from Russian bombing and artillery attacks.
SOUND BITE: Russian:
" We are going to guard the principles of freedom of speech and religion. We won't allow restrictions of these rights".
SUPERCAPTION: Valentin Kovalov, Commission Chairman
Those words will be of little comfort to those whose homes tonight lie in ruins in what remains of the city of Grozny.
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