Related articles and links |  1 of 3

November 19 (ENI)—Churches and ecumenical organizations have expressed deep concern for the plight of Chechnya's civilian population as Russia continues its massive campaign to suppress what it describes as the terrorist threat from the mainly Muslim republic.

At the same time, the Russian Orthodox Church, the church closest to the conflict, has endorsed the Russian government's military campaign in Chechnya. The church's leader, Patriarch Alexei II, said that his church supported the "anti-terrorist aims" of the Russian state authorities. But he also called on the authorities to "pay exceptional attention to the needs of the civilians".

The virulence of Russia's campaign—which is aimed at putting a stop to a conflict that has caused Moscow major problems over the past few years—has prompted criticisms from Western governments and international organizations, especially regarding the treatment of tens of thousands of civilians who are fleeing the military action in Chechnya.

"Profound concern" at the Russian intervention was expressed in a joint statement released on 16 November by two major ecumenical organizations in Geneva, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC).

According to the statement, the general secretaries of the WCC and of CEC have written to Patriarch Alexei, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, deploring "the disproportionate and irresponsible use of force employed by the Russian military forces, which is contributing to a humanitarian crisis of the utmost seriousness". (The Russian Orthodox Church, which plays a key role in public life in Russia, is the biggest member church of both the WCC and CEC.)

In their letter, the two general secretaries "acknowledge with gratitude" a statement by Patriarch Alexei on November 12, and appeal to him "and to the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church to do everything in your authority to enable unimpeded and secure international humanitarian assistance to be brought to those uprooted by this conflict, and to promote a peaceful resolution of the crisis".

The letter states that "the CEC and WCC recognise the context of lawlessness and terrorism which has preceded the current armed intervention by the Russian armed forces. We remember the many victims of terrorist acts, kidnapping and executions in Chechnya, including a number of Christian pastors and workers.

"However, we raise our voices that even legitimate political or military objectives cannot justify the innocent victims and suffering of peoples in the region. We deplore the disproportionate and irresponsible use of force employed by the Russian military forces, which is contributing to a humanitarian crisis of the utmost seriousness. We appeal to the Russian and Chechen political authorities, and to the combatants on all sides, to manifest mercy to all people, especially the civilian population, the prisoners and the wounded."

The patriarch's own statement, issued in Moscow, calls for protection to be given to innocent civilians. "I consider it extremely important," Patriarch Alexei stated, "to ensure that civilians - first of all those who have proved their non-participation in the lawlessness perpetrated and refused unequivocally to support the bandits and terrorists - should not become victims in the struggle with the criminals. This demands that the army should show an attitude of high responsibility in choosing the means and ways of conducting their military operations and that all the authorities should pay exceptional attention to the needs of the civilians, especially the forced re-settlers who have found themselves on the verge of survival."

next page... |  1 of 3

share this page

November (Web-only) 1999, Vol. 43