ABSTRACT
A referendum on a new constitution for the Republic of Chechnya was held on 23 March 2003. This appeared to mark the beginning of a new political development in the Chechen crisis. At least, that was the effect for which Moscow was hoping. The referendum was widely criticised in advance but by May 2003 western criticism had almost disappeared. A joint statement issued from an EU-Russia summit stated:
We took note of the recent referendum in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation. We expressed the hope that the recently started political process as well as the economic and social reconstruction will lead to the restoration of the rule of law, thus promoting the protection of human rights and leading to a genuine reconciliation in Chechnya.
(EU-Russia Summit 2003: point 21)