After six visits to the Chechen Republic in the last three years (most recently from 23 to 29 May 2003), the CPT assesses that there is a continued resort to torture and other forms of ill-treatment by members of the law enforcement agencies and federal forces operating in the Chechen Republic, and that action taken to bring to justice those responsible has proved largely unproductive.

The CPT identifies measures which need to be taken by the Russian authorities. They include a formal statement from the highest political level denouncing ill-treatment by members of the federal forces and law enforcement agencies in the Chechen Republic.

The CPT's public statement concerning the Chechen Republic is made under Article 10, paragraph 2, of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Article 10 (2) provides that if a Party to the Convention "fails to cooperate or refuses to improve the situation in the light of the Committee's recommendations, the Committee may decide, after the Party has had an opportunity to make known its views, by a majority of two-thirds of its members to make a public statement on the matter."

This is the second time the CPT makes a public statement concerning the Chechen Republic. The first one was issued in July 2001.