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From Gregg:

What role is the US playing in this continuing human rights nightmare, specifically funding and support to Chechnya. Also, it is documented that the US is the world's leading manufacturer and exporter of torture devices, with the full knowledge and consent of the Department of Commerce. Are these devices being provided to Russian military and law enforcement? What can the world community do to stop the exportation of these horrendous devices?

Satsita Muradova is a lawyer for the Russian human rights organization Memorial. Most recently, she was based in Nazran, Ingushetia, and made frequent trips into neighboring Chechnya.

Amnesty International is presently compiling information regarding the U.S. export of military, security and police equipment to Russia and other countries. When the report is finished it will be used to lobby for increased transparency vis-à-vis the export of these goods and in an effort to cease all sales, especially to countries with poor human rights records such as the Russian Federation. I do not have any of this information at this time. But I do know that the Russian army, as well as the Russian forces that lead the “antiterrorist operations” on the territory of Chechnya, subject the Chechen population to gross forms of violence. This is done with primitive tools: knives, work tools, electric items. To break people’s fingers, cut ears, noses, and genitalia, pull out nails, and use electric shock torture, it is not necessary to have special equipment that has been bought from the USA. And this is by far not the whole list of ill treatment that detained Chechens are subjected to.

In the former Soviet Union, special strategic institutes existed, which manufactured and handled the types of equipment you are talking about. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia built up its own positions in the weapons trade. The US took over the former Soviet Union as a world manufacturer and exporter of weapons. I believe that Russia does not need to purchase either contemporary or primitive torture equipment items. Russia has enough and is even capable of exporting them.

I am not familiar with special reports on the weapon export but here is the opinion that is prevalent across Russia. I am not sure whether US weapons are sold to the Russian army. What I am sure about is that the so-called antiterrorism operation, practically an ongoing genocide toward the Chechen people, is implemented by the Russian government with US approval, under the disguise of fighting world terrorism.

"What can the world community do to stop the export of such weapons?"

To be sincere, I do not know the answer to this question. Maybe NGOs need to lead mass campaigns (incorporating media and demonstrations) to raise awareness of the weapon trade. I hope that as a result public opinion will influence government decisions and will thus help prevent new wars.