Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Tbilisi does not exert enough political will to stabilize the situation in the Pankisi Gorge, said director of the Russian Federal Border Guard Service lieutenant-general Konstantin Totsky told reporters on Thursday. Referring to the operation of the Georgian power structures in Pankisi, Mr. Totsky noted, Just a few people were arrested there, while main bases remained in place. The director dismissed Georgias assertions that Russia allegedly took no measures to enact the agreements between the presidents of the two countries, sealed at the CIS summit in Kishinev to step up safeguard of shared border. Russian and Georgian border services, Mr. Totsky said, held consultations and signed a relevant protocol. On Thursday, he said, a delegation of Russian border officers led by chief of staff of the North Caucasian regional headquarters Valery Putov set off to Tbilisi to consult the Georgian side on the issue. The cooperation is now about a broad exchange of information between the two agencies about the situation on their territories, Totsky said. The director of the Russian Federal Border Guard Service noted that when mountain passes are cleared of snow, it will be possible to carry out joint border patrolling.
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Chechen history

The fourth stage
The period when Chechnya was part of Russia (the second half of the 19th century) can be designated as the fourth stage in Russian-Chechen relations. During that period the tsarist regime pursues the policy of threats and bribery. Progressively-minded representatives of the tsarist administration begin to realize that violence will not resolve the problem of highlanders, and that what is needed is cultural work and modernization. In the 70s and 90s the police regime eases and a pro-Russian Chechen elite is formed. The first Russian schools for mountain people are set up and the region is gradually getting drawn into the economic system of Russian capitalism. In Grozny oil begins to be extracted and refined, a railway is being built, a national bourgeoisie and a Chechen nation is formed . It was then (during the rule of reformer Emperor Alexander II) that Chechnya brought forward its spiritual leaders : Kunta-Khadzhi, Solets-Khadzhi, Deni-Sheikh Arsanov, Bammat-Girei Mitaev, Ali Mitaev, Sugaip-Mulla and other advocates of the ideas of traditional for Chechnya Islam. The period was characterized by favourable conditions for a peaceful settlement of ethnic problems in the light of the liberalization of the Russian political system towards constitutional monarchy.
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Russia - Chechnya

To Chechen children

The Head of the Chechen department of the Russian Children Foundation, Ramzan Khasukhanov, believe his organization must strive to improve the lives of children despite any difficulties. The Health and Children program is being successfully implemented in the republic, he remarks, under which over 100 Chechen kids are receiving medical treatment in Moscow hospitals. 45 more children from the Shali orphanage will leave for the Russian capital in assistance of the Chechen Labor and Social Security Ministries. The Chechen programs are likewise being implemented in the framework of the All-Russia Children Foundation. For one, a program for Chechen children whose families suffered in the Chechen wars. The program is headed by Grozny native Lubov Krizhanovskaya who was forced to flee the republic but did not forget about her compatriots. The programs trustee funds are chaired by Iosif Kobzon. 70 children are in charge of the foundation. Deposit accounts with funds raised by sponsors are available for them. The foundations Chechen department functions thanks to efforts of its own and sponsors. Under its charter, the officials work free of charge. All the more estimated their efforts must be. Mr. Khasukhanov says there are many kind people helping the Chechen kids. The Krasnodar schoolboys and girls have gathered coats and school items for the young Chechens. The Russian Charity Organizations Union has granted them three motion picture projectors. The Novo-Ordinsk Company provided the republican endocrinology center with a set of pen-shaped syringes for diabetic children. Through the effort by the Russian-US children foundation four Chechen kids have been sent to the United States for operations. An operation for heart costs at least 80 thousand dollars, but the Chechen children underwent it free of charge.
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Chechnya as seen by friends

The Moscow-based catalogue publisher Vladimir Krivtsov rates Petrakov's collection of such items as one of this country's best. There are two big desk medals in it, both of tombac and both in catalogues for rarity. One, minted by the Moscow Mint in 1981, marked 200 years since Chechnya became part of the Russian Empire. The other, minted by the Leningrad Mint in 1982, marked 60 years since the establishment of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Russian Federation. The face side of the latter medal carries reliefs of the Soviet-era awards won by the Chechen-Ingush Republic -- the Order of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution and the Order of Friendship among Peoples. Both medals were minted in the low hundreds, making them highly prized collection items. Both were handed out to selected few admitted to official events on the respective jubilees. The Petrakov collection also includes parallel mass circulation badges on both commemorations, in 1981 and 82. The jewel of his collection is a Russian military medal from the time of the Caucasus War in the 19th century. It was awarded to a Russian soldier or cossack who fought in Chechnya between 1857 and 59.
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Issue 43
15.11.02

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

15 November 2002  The public movement of New Times opens its office in St. Petersburg
Inter regional public movement of New Times was founded two years ago and its head office is in Moscow. It is headed by the deputy head of the Chechen administration, an economist Dr. Usman Masaev. The movement embraces Chechen intellectuals. Among them are doctors, teachers, military, cultural workers and young people. It is aimed to revive Chechnya. It has recently sponsored a national conference on Chechen culture, its history and how to protect it under the present conditions. The conference provoked a great public response. The branches of the movement have been set up in Saratov, Pskov and Chechnya. The St. Petersburg office is headed by a lawyer, Ruslan Magomadov. He said that the members of the movement in the city were engaged in working out a conception to fight against terrorism. The members of the movement condemned the attack on the Theatre Centre in Moscow and expressed condolence to the relatives and friends of the victims among the hostages. Though the St. Petersburg branch has started to function recently its members discuss urgent issues actively and meet with politicians and public figures. Just recently the members received a childrens musical group from Chechnya that successfully staged its performances.
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14 November 2002  Nadterechny district of Chechnya future plans.

According to the head of the local administration Sultan Akhmetanov, Nadterechny district has always been famous for its stability. Now, after his two months work, it is still one of the most well being regions of Chechnya. This year Nadterechny district became republics number one agricultural producer, taking in 66 tons of grain. 12 district farms are now sowing winter crops on 16,5 thousand hectares. Three or four thousand hectares more will be sowed with lucerne and rape. There are some more social-economic development prospects in the district. Recently a branch of the Moscow Flora Bank has been opened in Nadterechny. Akhmetanov believes that the bank will guarantee success of many business plans. Much of intensive work is done in Nadterechny district to employ more people. For example restoration of the Znamenskoe-Ken-Yurt highway will provide many working places. Many people are expected to be involved in reconstructing the pipeline between Znamenskoe and Podgornoe districts. This project is being worked out at the moment. In the nearest future Nadterechny authorities are planning to open a new vocational training school with 250 students and 60 instructors. Another contemporary college will be opened in Verkhny Naur, with a training program consisting of many modern professions as for example computer specialists.
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13 November 2002  Chechen oil is the treasure of the republic, not militants.

It is no secret that militant groups in Chechnya have until recently lived not only on financial support from abroad but also on sales of oil products illegally extracted and refined by any means into what is known as auto fuel. A primitive apparatus of two barrels welded together and complete with a spiral tube made it possible in the time of total lawlessness in Chechnya to get several hundreds of liters of petroleum from a few tons of high-quality oil. Such a surrogate was shipped to neighboring regions. The profit ran up to million of dollars. Clearly, the producers themselves had to do with peanuts. Obviously, the forces that are seeking to obstruct the restoration of the Chechen economy are bent on hindering the operations of the Grozneftegaz union tasked by the republican authorities with putting the core industry of the region back on track. General director of the union Bautdin Khamidov feels sure, however, that the regained pace of Chechnyas oil extracting enterprises will not be derailed. Oilers are now extracting more than 4 000 tons of oil a day. The output is expected to reach 5 000 tons by the end of the year. The increase will be coming on the strength of drilling new oil wells. According to Chechnyas law enforcement agencies, security of all oil-and-gas installations will be stepped up in the near future. Particular emphasis is placed on oil products transportation. It is possible that most owners of underground oil refineries will be rehabilitated, for one, because they were forced or even harassed into such activity. The development of Chechnyas oil and energy industries on a legal basis will put an end to these ugly practices.
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13 November 2002  Referendum on Chechen Constitution to take place in March-April 2003
The center includes hairdressers saloon, tailors shop, TV, radio and photoshops, providing services of all sorts for the population and state and private enterprises. In comparison with commercial centers, the prices are considerably lower here. The equipment for the shops and hairdressers saloon as well as various materials are supplied by the Chechen governmental committee for publis service. The equipment is new and updated. All the centers officials are the local residents. The three-storey building houses the tailors shop,Spring, with four deprtments. One more department functions in tailors shop 2. Its specialists sew custom-made coat, costumes and working uniforms. High in demands are the bedding items. The center frequently receives large orders from the enterprises. One of the latest was 700 bedding iteds. 40 tailors work to provide daily service for up to 200 consumers. According to the centers director, Emdi Shakhmurzaev, the working process is well-run and the center can cope with even more orders. Given returning of the situation in Chechnya to normal, the center prepares for receiveing more clients. (more News from Chechnya)

13 November 2002  Russias General Staff Sets Terms for Armys Cutting in Chechnya

According to the ITAR-TASS agency, Russias General Staff has define three principles that determine terms for launching the reduction of the Russian forces in Chechnya - social and economic stabilization, bolstering security and searching for rebels and neutralizing their groups. Chief of the Staff, General Anatoly Kvashnin says there is no military action in Chechnya at the moment, and the situation is returning to normal. That is a temporary factor that defines terms for cutting the forces. He remarks three tasks earlier mentioned must be implemented to stabilize finally the situation in the republic. Earlier, on November 6th Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said that Russian forces would be pulled out from Chechnya only after there was confidence that the threat of terrorist was eliminated or at least eased. (more News update)

Chechen traditions

Modern customs and traditions

The Chechen word for "wedding" is translated as "play." Wedding stands for a succession of live shows, singing, dancing, muiscal and pantomime numbers. Music is played when relatives, friends and other villagers go after the bride and when the bride is shown into her new home. This stage of the wedding celebration seems the right time for a bit of fun. The bride's relatives throw a sheepskin cape on the ground or tie a rope across the street to show the people who are leading the girl to her new home that they will go no farther unless they pay ransom money. More games will be played when the bride has made it for the bridegroom's place. A felt rug and a broom are left to lie on the threshold. The bride can either walk right in or stop to put the two things in the right place. If the bride restores order, she is a clever girl; if she ignores the two misplaced things, her would-be husband has had a stroke of bad luck. The dolled-up bride is seated by the window where guesta of nonor are supposed to sit. That part of the room is decorated with a special wedding curtain. The girl is offered to hold someone's firstborn son (she will hopefully give birth to many boys.) The bride hugs the baby and gives him a present. Guests give various things to the newlyweds. Women give them bolts of cloth, small rugs, candy, money. Men bring either money or sheep. They make a point of giving their presents directly to the newlyweds. And then, everyone is invited to partake of a sumptuous meal. The meal over, it is time for a new performance. The guests ask the bride to give them a drink of water. All of them talk without stopping, crack jokes, discuss the bride's looks, but the bride should keep her mouth shut because verbosity is a sign of emptyheadedness and immodesty. The bride can only offer the guests a drink of water and wish them all good health. Another performance is timed to the third day of the wedding festival. Musical instruments are played when dancing guests lead the bride to the river. Cornmeal pancakes are thrown into the water, to be shot at, after which the bride draws some water from the river and goes home. The observance of this old custom is supposed to protect the young woman from the spirit of the river: the water sprite who wanted to get a pancake rose to the surface, and the wedding guests shot him down dead, which makes the river a safe place to visit. It is usually in the evening of the third day of the wedding festival that a man empowered to act for the bride's father and the bridegroom go to the register office. It is usually the mullah who gives, on behalf of the girl's father, consent to the marriage, and next day the bride becomes the young lady of the house. A very old Chechen custom forbids the bridegroom to appear at his own wedding. He plays no role in the wedding ceremonies and whiles away time in the company of his friends.
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