Russia escapes censure; Cuba vote postponed

? For the second year running, Russia on Wednesday escaped censure by the top United Nations human rights body for alleged violations by its forces in Chechnya.

In a separate action, the 53-nation U.N. Human Rights Commission postponed a vote on Cuba’s treatment of political dissidents for 24 hours after a politically charged debate collapsed into procedural wrangling.

On Russia, the commission rejected a resolution submitted by European countries that urged Moscow to tackle abuses including forced disappearances, summary executions and torture. The motion also condemned hostage taking and attacks by Chechen separatists, including last October’s seizure of a Moscow theater.

Fifteen commission member countries backed the proposal, including European nations, the United States, Canada and Australia. The 21 opponents included Russia, China, Cuba, Brazil and India. Seventeen nations abstained.

In 2000 Russia became the first permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to be censured by the commission for human rights abuses. Censure brings no penalties but draws international attention to a country’s rights record. Moscow again was condemned in 2001.

Russia claims that Chechen separatists are being supported by international terrorists and has sought to justify its crackdown as part of international efforts to fight terrorism. Officials acknowledge that abuses have taken place but say claims by human rights groups are overblown and that the situation in Chechnya has improved.

Russian troops pulled out of Chechnya in 1996 following a disastrous 20-month campaign against the separatists. Although large-scale fighting has ended, daily rebel raids and Russian operations continue and tens of thousands of Chechens still live in refugee camps.

The commission also regularly criticizes Cuba but this year’s proposal, put forward by Costa Rica, Peru and Uruguay, was weaker than previous versions, simply calling on Cuba to accept a visit by a U.N. human rights investigator.

However, Costa Rica proposed an amendment Wednesday urging Cuba to release a large number of political dissidents who were sentenced in the past week.

In a government statement read on state television Tuesday night, Cuba accused the United States of trying to strong-arm poor nations into censuring the communist-run island.

In other action, the commission:

l Censured North Korea for its precarious humanitarian situation and for alleged systematic and widespread rights violations, including torturing prisoners and performing public executions, as well as imposing severe restrictions on freedom of expression.

l Ducked discussion of a resolution that condemned violations in Zimbabwe. The body passed a “no action” motion proposed by African countries, a procedural move that blocked further debate and a vote on the European Union resolution, which was strongly critical of President Robert Mugabe’s government. The resolution condemned violations of freedom of expression, including a crackdown on journalists.