Agreement to end hostilities signed at OSCE Offices in Chechnya

VIENNA, 31 July 1995 - At the headquarters of the OSCE Assistance Group in Grozny on Sunday, Russian officials and Chechen representatives signed an agreement to end hostilities in Chechnya.

The military agreement consists of four basic elements:

1. The immediate cessation of military hostilities. The parties agreed to establish a Special Observer Commission, comprising representatives of all sides. Representatives of the OSCE are invited to join the Special Observer Commission in the capacity of observers. The Commission will start to operate today, 31 July.

2. Liberation of forcefully detained persons on the bases of the principle of "all for all". Exchange of lists of force dispositions, minefields, and POWs/MIAs took place 30 July.

3. A gradual withdrawal of troops under the supervision of Special Observer Commission, including an unconditional disarmament of illegal armed formations. Disarmament will be conducted in three stages:1) units under the command of field commanders2) civilians belonging to militia groups3) individual personsIn order to secure the process of disarmament the signatories decided to withdraw their forces from the line of contact to two to four kilometres. Additionally, in order to provide support to law enforcement authorities of the region, the signatories agreed to the deployment of one brigade of the internal security forces of the Russian Federation, as well as to one motor rifle brigade of the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

4. The cessation of terrorist acts. The Chechen side agreed to give assistance to the Federal Authorities in finding and detaining Shamil Basssaev and his group, accused of the hostage taking in Budionnovsk.

The signatories of the agreement were the representatives of the Federal Authorities of the Russian Federation, the delegation representing Mr. Dudayev and the Head of the OSCE Assistance Group, Mr. Sandor Merzaros. Further negotiations on political and economic issues will continue on 3 August at the OSCE Assistance Group offices in Grozny.