RUSSIA: LIBERAL DEPUTY GAIDAR SAYS YELTSIN'S DECISION TO SEND TROOPS TO CHECHNYA LIKE "JUMPING OUT OF A WINDOW"

Record ID: 646107

  • Title: RUSSIA: LIBERAL DEPUTY GAIDAR SAYS YELTSIN'S DECISION TO SEND TROOPS TO CHECHNYA LIKE "JUMPING OUT OF A WINDOW"
  • Date: 18th December 1994
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 18) (RTV -- ACCESS ALL) 1. SV PRESS CONFERENCE / CAMERA OPERATORS (2 SHOTS) 0.09 2. SCU LIBERAL DEPUTY YEGOR GAIDAR SPEAKING (ENGLISH) 0.38 3. SV CUTAWAY JOURNALISTS 0.45 4. SCU GAIDAR SPEAKING (ENGLISH) 1.09 SEQUENCE 2 TRANSCRIPT: GAIDAR :"THAT CHECHNYA IS RUSSIAN TERRITORY SO YELTSIN IS WITHIN HIS RIGHTS IN THEORY BUT YOU CAN JUMP OUT OF WINDOW AND BE WITHIN YOUR RIGHTS - BUT IS IT SENSIBLE?" SEQUENCE 4 TRANSCRIPT: GAIDAR :"THAT POLITICALLY CHECHNYA IS AN INTERNAL RUSSIAN AFFAIR BUT THE WORLD COMMUNITY - ESPECIALLY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS - SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES" Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 2nd January 1995 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City:
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVAE29T35F0FVT6UO9BYZUDJCRY1
  • Story Text: Liberal deputy Yegor Gaidar on Sunday (December 18) in Moscow said the decision by Russian President Boris Yeltsin to send troops into rebel southern province Chechnya was, though theoretically legal, like "jumping out of a window." Speaking after a news conference, Gaidar said that from a legal point of view, Chechnya was Russian territory so Yeltsin was within his rights.

    He used an example of a person jumping out of a window to illustrate his point.

    "You can jump out of the window and be within your rights," Gaidar said. "You are not breaking the law by doing it, but is it sensible?" he asked.

    Gaidar also said he was sure the vast majority of democratic forces would not support Yeltsin's policy in Chechnya. And he added the world community should be alarmed by the potential for human rights violations in Chechnya.

    Gaidar on Saturday (December 17) sent a telegram to Yeltsin last night, urging him to correct the "tragic mistake." "I call on you as president and the commander-in-chief not to allow any escalation in military activity in Chechnya," the telegram read.

    Russian warplanes started dropping bombs near Chechnya's capital on Sunday shortly after a midnight deadline.


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