Russia rejects allegations of human rights violations in central Africa

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Protection group of the President of the Central African Republic (archive)

Photo: Florent Vergnes / AFP

The Russian government has denied claims that Russian military instructors were involved in killing civilians and ransacking homes in the Central African Republic.

During a heated discussion in the United Nations Security Council (UN), the United States, Great Britain and France accused Russia of committing human rights violations in the crisis country.

On Sunday, the New York Times quoted a report to the Security Council accusing Russian military of killing civilians and looting houses during the fighting earlier this year.

When asked about the report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov categorically rejected the claim.

"Russian military advisers did not take part in any killings or looting," Peskov said on a press conference call.

This is "another lie".

Deadly interreligious and intercommunal fighting has been going on in the mineral-rich Central African Republic since 2013.

In February 2019, the government signed a peace agreement with 14 rebel groups, but the violence continues.

Russia wants to train local military

Russia supports the country’s president, Faustin Archange Touadera, in the conflict.

He was confirmed in the December elections and is now in his second term.

However, he faces resistance from rebel groups who have made a pact with former President François Bozizé.

At the invitation of the government, Russia has sent military advisers to train the local military.

Last week the United States, Britain and France accused the Russian delegates of attacking civilians in the Central African Republic and of obstructing UN peace missions.

They put the Russian military instructors in touch with the infamous Wagner group.

The private security firm is allegedly linked to Russian entrepreneur Yevgeny Prigozhin - who was charged with meddling in the 2016 presidential election in the United States.

Prigozhin-related companies have also reportedly secured lucrative mining deals in the Central African Republic.

In 2018, three Russian journalists were killed there while investigating Wagner's activities there.

Suspects were not identified at the time.

Prigozhin has been nicknamed "Putin's Cook" since he entertained Russian President Vladimir Putin with foreign guests in his restaurant and organized important Kremlin events.

Most recently, Prigozhin felt attacked by a video from the environment of the opposition politician Alexei Navalny.

He filed a defamation lawsuit against the Kremlin critic and demanded five million rubles (almost € 55,000) in damages.

ire / AP