Prague Watchdog was a Czech non-governmental organization which in 2000-2010 collected and disseminated information and discussion on the conflict in the North Caucasus. The organization's work was supported by grants provided by the US-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
Prague Watchdog began its life as a source of detailed news reports from a region where human rights were being grossly violated and humanitarian aid conditions were seriously deficient. Although the human rights and humanitarian situation in Chechnya and the North Caucasus still leaves much to be desired, it no longer commands attention from the international media now that large-scale fighting has subsided. We hoped to put pressure on Western and Russian policymakers alike to seek more effective ways for achieving peace and security in the region. The service was located in Prague because, as one of the formerly Soviet-controlled eastern bloc countries, the Czech Republic offers both an incisive perspective on Russian militarism and an experienced observation of the Chechen scene. The contributors to the service were mainly Russians, Chechens and Ingush but include others as well. To the greatest possible extent we made use of information gleaned from first-hand reporting from the region.
In June 2010 Prague Watchdog completed its last project. This website will not be updated by the Prague Watchdog team any more.
|