A/HRC/13/31 Observations 446. The Working Group notes that the Government has signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and calls upon the Government to ratify it and accept the competence of the Committee under articles 31 and 32. Russian Federation Number of outstanding cases at the beginning of the period under review Cases transmitted to the Government during the period under review: 0 Cases clarified during the period under review: 0 Cases sent under the urgent action procedure Cases sent under the standard procedure 0 0 467 Number of cases on which the Government has replied 9 Government Nongovernmental sources Number of outstanding cases at the end of the year under review 0 0 467 Multiple replies on some cases Number of cases of possible clarification by Government (6month rule) Yes 1 General allegation N/A Government response N/A Prompt intervention letter Yes Government response Yes Working Group request for a visit Yes Government response Yes Information from the Government 447. The Government transmitted three communications dated 4 and 25 August and 21 October 2008, including information on two cases, which was insufficient to lead to a clarification. The first two communications, although sent on different dates, include the same information on one case, on which the Working Group decided to apply the six-month rule at its eighty-ninth session. In the third communication, the Government provided information on one case which did not lead to a clarification. 448. During the reporting period, the Government transmitted seven communications. In a first communication dated 21 January 2009, the Government provided the Working Group with the list of civilians in the Republic of South Ossetia presumed to have been abducted by members of the Georgian security forces during the conflict in South Ossetia in August 2008. In a second communication dated 21 January 2009, the Government replied to the prompt intervention letter sent by the Working Group on 9 December 2008. 449. In a communication dated 12 March 2009, the Government provided information on nine cases. The information included was considered insufficient to lead to a clarification. 450. In a communication dated 11 May 2009, the Government provided information on the urgent communication sent on 22 January 2009. GE.09-17704 95