INGUSHETIA: COUNCIL OF EUROPE VISITS REFUGEE CAMP

Russian/Nat A top Council of Europe official visited one of the Ingushetia refugee camps on Wednesday to see firsthand the conditions there. Lord Russel-Johnston was accompanied by the Russian Minister for the Interior Vladimir Rushailo. Russel-Johnston has called for an end to Russia’s campaign in Chechnya and is among those calling for a vote on whether to expel Russia from the Council. There was tight security as the visitors arrived. For the Russian government it was a chance to defend its record in the region against criticism from the West. Since the beginning of the conflict the international community has been expressing its concerns about the way civilians are effected as the result of military actions. On Wednesday a top official of Council of Europe, Lord Russel-Johnston, visited one of the refugee camps in Ingushetia. The Council, Europe’s top human-rights body, has called for an end to the Russian offensive. Lord Russel-Johnston said earlier this week that many council