Sergey Karpov’s speech with a motion for a resolution at the high-level meeting organized by the OSCE in Vienna on September 13–14, 2007

We, the representatives of public organizations defending the interests of victims of the apartment blasts in Volgodonsk and Moscow, the seizure of hostages at the Moscow theater, the bombings of the Moscow subway, the destruction of the ‘Moscow-Volgograd’ and ‘Moscow-Sochi’ airliners, and the seizure of hostages at School #1 in Beslan, ask the OSCE in making their resolution to take into account our motion:

1. We ask the OSCE to submit a special resolution that expresses their concern with regards to the absence of social support measures for victims of terror acts in Russia, and the lack of an effective investigation.

2. To create as part of the OSCE a plenipotentiary agency (commission) to investigate terror acts in those cases where the investigation conducted by the national authorities fails to meet the criteria of effectiveness and thoroughness.

3. To develop an international law on the status of “victim of a terror act”.  To promulgate this concept to persons who have undergone harm (moral, material, physical and psychological) from a terror act or its consequences.  To stipulate that this law applies to all victims of a terror act, regardless of when the terror act was committed, either before or after the adoption of the law.

4. We propose the OSCE develop a convention (agreement) on the standards of providing assistance to victims of terror acts, specifically those procedures, amounts, and periods of provision.  In doing so, it should also stipulate a mechanism for providing assistance to persons who suffered on the territory of another government.