Project plan for 2005

Project Objectives

The overriding goal of the Chechnya Justice Project remains to secure legal redress and reparations for victims of serious human rights abuses committed during the ongoing war in Chechnya and to promote respect for rights enshrined in the Russian Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. The project believes that its work will contribute to promoting justice for all victims of serious crimes in Chechnya by addressing key failures of the justice system through both domestic and international legal institutions. In particular, the project seeks to hold perpetrators accountable for specific violations by representing its clients before Russian authorities and bringing cases to the European Court of Human Rights. The long-term goals of the project include:

Securing legal redress and reparations for victims of serious human rights abuses committed during the current conflict in Chechnya when domestic proceedings have been ineffective;
Contributing to a peaceful resolution of the Chechnya conflict by establishing accountability for serious human rights abuses, which, it is believed…” will decrease tensions and provide a model for resolving disputes through legal means rather than through violent conflict;
Strengthening local capacity in the Northern Caucasus and throughout Russia by supporting local NGOs and training lawyers and human rights defenders in human rights litigation;
Publishing accessible resource materials, specific to the Chechen context and to Russian law, that will allow private citizens and human rights advocates to bring cases independently to the European Court;
Addressing the lack of effective domestic remedy for serious human rights abuses committed both in Chechnya and in other regions of Russia and compelling Russian authorities to halt widespread abuses in Chechnya and provide adequate domestic remedies that hold perpetrators accountable;
Developing a body of ECHR case-law that will clarify Russian obligations under the European Convention, thus setting a framework for reform of the Russian judiciary and law enforcement structures, and contributing to the international legal system for the protection of human rights;
Instituting reforms in Russian legislation and law enforcement to protect rights and freedoms enshrined in the Convention;
Requiring the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, as stipulated in the Convention, to supervise the implementation of the European Court’s rulings and take measures to prevent further violations.

Project Activities

Legal Developments and Casework

The Chechnya Justice Project anticipates another ambitious and productive year in 2005. The project will continue to represent the interests of over 700 applicants in 95 cases: in 72 cases already presented to the European Court and in 23 cases currently in review for potential submission to the European Court.

The project will dedicate an ever-increasing portion of its work to the advanced stages of European Court litigation, including the communication stage and the admissibility stage. The project anticipates submitting pleadings on behalf of applicants in response to 15 government memoranda received in the communication stage as well as to a few admissibility decisions in its first cases.

The project will also present not less than 19 full applications to supplement preliminary applications submitted to the European Court in 2003 and 2004, and anticipates submitting 12 preliminary applications in 2005.

With the increased capacity provided by the Ingushetia lawyer and the legal director, the project will continue to respond to the ongoing need for legal representation for victims of serious abuses of human rights by taking on new cases. The project will represent approximately 10 new cases that have strong potential for success at the European Court.

Training

Chechnya Justice Project staff will continue to increase their expertise and qualifications through participation in trainings sponsored by human rights and international organizations both in Russia and elsewhere in Europe. Following on the success of the Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights training program in 2004, the project hopes to sponsor a similar trip to allow additional staff members and other human rights activists and lawyers to attend.

In response to the specific needs of its staff lawyers, the project will again organize in-house seminars for intensive trainings on topics most relevant to the current work of the organization, including new ECHR case law, developments in Russian law, tools for submission of advanced ECHR pleadings, and preparation of ECHR oral arguments.

Research and Publications

The Citizen’s Guide proved to be a highly functional and important document for the project’s work with applicants from Chechnya and other parts of the Northern Caucasus. The project will revise the Citizen’s Guide and publish additional copies to be distributed among existing and potential applicants as well as others who come to the project’s offices seeking legal advice and assistance.

The project will publish a second practical guide, which will provide practical, step-by-step information for lawyers and human rights activists representing victims from Chechnya before Russian law enforcement bodies and the European Court of Human Rights. The booklet will draw on the success of the Citizen’s Guide in transferring the project’s expertise to a wider audience. Many lawyers and human rights activists have participated in trainings and seminars related to ECHR and Russian litigation. Nevertheless, the training may remain incomplete, as representatives of victims often lack appropriate resource materials to assist them in their daily legal work. This practical guide for lawyers aims to fill that void.

As needed, the project will also commission research or conduct in-house research in order to produce reports on legal topics relevant to the project’s Russian and European Court of Human Rights litigation.

Advocacy

The Chechnya Justice Project will continue to maintain established contacts with members of the diplomatic corps in Moscow and seek other opportunities for engaging in productive dialogue with foreign government officials. The Moscow representative office director will contribute advice and ideas to the work of the Russian Ombudsman’s Committee on Chechnya. The project staff will also remain in frequent communication with members of the Russian and international media to ensure attention to the progress on cases from Chechnya before the European Court of Human Rights.

Cooperation

Drawing on productive relationships established in recent years with domestic and international organizations, the Chechnya Justice Project looks forward to continued productive cooperation with our many important partners. Joint advocacy will remain a priority, particularly on the topic of security of applicants.

Cases before the European Court of Human Rights >>