Moscow, 22 June 2000 (RFE/RL) - A Council of Europe delegation led by Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini is to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov as the delegation prepares a report on Chechnya for a Council of Europe session next week. Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Duma's international affairs committee, said yesterday that Moscow will boycott the June 26-30 session in Strasbourg because of the council's criticism of the military campaign in Chechnya.
Before they leave Russia, the Council delegation will also meet with Council deputies who have started a six-month probe into alleged human rights violations in Chechnya.