Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Chechen law enforcement agencies say more teenagers have proved involved in terrorist activity. According to the ITAR-TASS news agency, quoting the regional antiterrorist command in the North Caucasus, local policemen have detained a 15-year old teenager in the Novie Atagi village in the Shali District, who fired on a Chechen riot unit at night. During investigations it became clear a resident of the neighboring village of Chiri-Ur, whose name is not revealed by investigators, offered two teenagers money for murder of Chechen riot officers. The boys were promised 100 rubles for each. According to the antiterrorist command, federal forces have detained many young terrorists suspected of being behind murder and robbery.
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Preparations for the referendum on a new Chechen constitution, slated for March 23rd, are in full swing in the population centers of the republic. According to the aide to the Chechen Governments Chairman, Alexei Vasin, quoted by the RIA news agency, today has seen gathering of the local residents to discuss the draft constitution in Gudermes and Tolstoi-Urt. The gatherings brought together the elders and representatives of artistic and scientific intelligentsia. The participants expressed confidence that the militants will fail to undermine the referendum crucial for paving the way towards peace in Chechnya. Similar meetings are under way in other population areas of the republic.
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Religion in Chechnya

The teaching of Kunta-Khadzhi Kishiev (continuation)
• If you want to love Allah love justice.Wish your neighbour what you wish yourself.Never try to be richer, higher or stronger than others.Share with the poor everything God has sent you.Beware of the envious. Let them envy your knowledge, fairness and generosity.Pray to Allah that nothing earned with someone elses blood and sweat would get attached to you. This is an insurmountable obstacle towards tarikat.
• A war is preposterous. Distance yourselves from anything reminiscent of war, if the enemy has not come to take your faith and honour from you. Your power lies in your intelligence, patience and justice. The enemy will never stand up to this force and admit defeat sooner or later. No one can overpower you or your truth if you follow your faith with devotion.
• The Almighty wants murids to spend their time doing good, that is, repair roads and bridges, clean up springs, grow trees along the roads and build mosques.A murid has to visit bed-ridden people, show interest in the needs of the elderly, the orphans and all feeble and sickly and do all he can to help them. A murid has to do other things that God might approve of, such as reconcile spouses that have fallen out, return mothers to their children and restore families.
• Never respond to evil with evil, for it causes more evil. Any evil is against God. God alone has the power to punish the villains and pardon the benefactors. You will defeat the villains and violent by rejecting them, perfecting your souls and your Order. The clearer and more righteous the way you follow, the more difficult you will make it for villains and tyrants. They will succumb to the power of your truth, for they will feel that the Almighty is on your side. They will be defeated by God and your tarikat. Time is working for you, for it is working for justice.
• Dont carry weapons. Stay away from them. Weapons remind you of violence and take you off your path to God. The power of weapons is nothing as compared to the power of human beings that follow the path of God. Any weapons testify to lack of confidence that the Almighty will come to your rescue at the right moment. Besides, Eblis constantly sends your hand groping for the dagger or gun. You are becoming a victim of Eblis.
• Be hard-working. Dont shrink from the most difficult of work. He who doesnt earn his living lives at the expense of others. This is a sin, which equals to stealing. Learn to value and feel deep respect for every bread crumb, for this crumb is enough to feed a bird and an ant. You will save a soul made by God and none but Him is capable of creating even the smallest of being.Love the world created by its Great Maker and do all you can to preserve it.
• Refrain from excesses, for excesses, unlike needs, know no limits. It is a shame and a sin to wish what others havent got, to wish to stand out from others for luxury, smart clothes or a larger place to live in. It is a shame and a sin to have a lot of cattle and not to share them with those starving. It is a shame and a sin to change clothes every day and go by looking loftily on those wearing threadbare clothes for a long time.It is a shame and a sin to stand near a barefooted in expensive and stylish footwear.It is a shame and a sin to try to stand out from others for a high and costly hat. Excessive food, sleep, clothes and living quarters do not bring us closer but keep us away from Allah.Every Muslim is beautiful for his moderation and modesty.Moderation and modesty are the keys opening the gate to God.
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Russia - Chechnya

Russian regions to Chechnya

There are approximately 69 thousand Chechen refugees living in Ingushetia. 19 thousand of them live in special refugee camps, others live in the private sector. Murat Ziazikov the president of Ingushetia visited the refugee camp Bart in the town of Karbulak where nearly 6 thousand of Chechens live. Ziazikov assured the refugees that authorities of Ingushetia would do their best to provide gas and electricity for them. He stressed that he would not let any forced repatriation to Chechnya happen. People can return home whenever they want. A special conference of the government operative headquarters in Magas was also dedicated to the problem of refugees. According to the vice-prime minister Victor Hristenko the place of the conference was defined long before its holding. For many years Ingushetia has been aiding Chechen refugees despite all the financial difficulties. During the conference, Nikolai Patrushev the head of the federal security service, stressed that economical and security problems should be solved in Chechnya simultaneously. According to him, this is the only way to create conditions safe enough to return people back to Chechnya.
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Issue 59
14.01.03

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

14 January 2003  Chechnyas Justice Ministry starts to work in full strength
Russian Justice Minister Yuri Chaika has praised the work of law enforcement agencies in Chechnya in the past year. Houses of Justice have been opened in five districts where there are layers offices, birth, marriage and death registration offices and bailiff services. The newly appointed prosecutor of the republic Vladimir Kravchenko considers that Chechnyas law enforcement agencies coordinate their work and closely cooperate with Prosecutor Generals office and the Justice Ministry. There is an increase in disclosure of crimes though the bandit groups continue to function. Nevertheless, local people continue to surrender weapons. Often militant groups with their commanders surrender arms so as to return to peaceful life. Owing to regular explanation to the local people of laws concerning voluntary giving oneself up, the surrender of weapons by militants has gained momentum. Another fact that shows the situation in Chechnya is returning to normal is that the birth rate has exceeded the death rate and the number of marriages have exceeded the number of divorces. More than 11 000 young pairs registered their marriages last year, while only 244 pairs divorced. According to the head of the Justice Ministrys department on Chechen affairs Bek Baskanov, there were no registration offices until 2000 and during the Dudaev and Maskhadov regimes republic was ruled under Shereah law. Several years ago leading television channels in the world showed horrible picture of killing by a Chechen wife of her husband for jealousy. Such things will not be repeated. According to Russian Presidents aide Sergei Yatrzhembsky, an able-bodied judicial system has been set up in Chechnya.
(more News from Chechnya)

13 January 2003  How fuel and energy complex in Chechnya functions in winter
Chechen electricians have restored 1200-kilometer-long power lines since 2000. Many settlements have been electrified for the first time. Though 82 power stations function in the republic power failures are not so rare. This, according to the republican energy minister Umar Yasaev, is caused by the mass use of electrical heating equipment in almost all houses in winter. This creates an additional load that leads to power failures. Similar picture can be seen in the gas supply area when gas is used to warm houses. This leads to a fall in pressure in pipelines and the consumers at the end of the line do not get gas. The private houses can be heated by using coal but it is not popular in the republic. The reason is that people have to buy coal while they get electricity and gas free-of charge since the government pays the bill. By the winter Chechnya was supplied with 11 000 tons of coal that cover 15 percent of the republics needs. But the government sells this amount with great difficulties. The price of coal for people with low income is 500 rubles a ton and for others 900 rubles a ton. The difference in price is covered by the government. Many people in Chechnya cannot buy coal though it is soled at a price less than cost-price. Power engineers promise to improve the situation in the next winter when the republic starts to receive gas regularly. Then the gas supply will be stabilized. Under the Russian governments plan for the reconstruction of the Chechen republic, the gas sector will get 150 million rubles to upgrade the gas supply network.
(more News from Chechnya...)

13 January 2003  Environmentalists in Naursky district sound alarm
According to environmentalists, the Naursky district of Chechnya lost more than 50 million rubles in damage inflicted by illegal oil production and violations of production technologies. One of the sources of pollution in the district is unauthorized dumping of domestic and construction waste. About 120 hectares of pastures and forest belts are littered with rubbish. Forest felling, especially in the flood-lands of the Terek River, which is the result of the absence of any gas supplies and shortage of solid fuel, poses a serious threat to the environment too. The districts territories are also contaminated with oil production refuse. Protection of the environment in the Naursky district is on the agenda of a district environmental committee and a special coordinating council. In 2002 conservationists held several clear-up actions and they are constantly engaged in campaigns to win over local people. Measures to prevent felling are underway too. The Mekenskaya-Nikolaevskaya gas pipeline is under construction and the people get regular supplies of coal and firewood. The South-Center company, which is accountable to the Emergencies Ministry, has begun to re-cultivate 70 hectares of land. In 2001 the environmentalists of the Naursky district provided the republican prosecutors with information to launch a number of lawsuits in connection with illegal production of oil products that damage the environment.
(more News from Chechnya...)

12 January 2003  Chechen Peasants Wrap Up Agricultural Year Successfully
In late November the Agricultural Minister submitted a report on the agricultural and industrial sector activities to the Chairman of the Chechen Administration. The agricultural year has wrapped up successfully, despite last summers devastating floods, terrorist acts and lacks of spare parts and fuel and lubrication materials. For next years crops the republic delivers 15.000 tons of seeds from the Rostov region, as well as fuel and lubrication materials from the Astrakhan region and the city of Tuapse. Each Chechen region is trying to resolve the agricultural problems effectively thanks to local resources. Khasan Bugaev has been a chief agronomist of the Gudermes region for the past five years. He is sure the field workers perform their activities better and better each year, which is proved by last years figures. The region has harvested 21.7 centners of winter-crops per a hectare, whereupon the best farms of BART and Engelurtovsky 30 centners. The cheque system embraces about 9.300 hectares in the region. Last year the farmers started to use cheques to grow sugar beet, and the experiment proved successful, resulting in a good harvest. To provide residents with jobs, including temporary replaced from other regions, many farms of the region have got engaged in vegetable-growing. For one, the Khanghishurtovsky region has harvested 300 tons of onion from the cheque fields, that is an excellent result. Rotation of crop is returning to normal, and lucerne is to be introduced. All these inspire hope for a good harvest this year, Khasan Bugaev says.
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Chechen ethnos

The chechens after the caucasian war

The drawn-out Caucasian war left an imprint on the Chechen economy, family and society, Remembering that "all Moslems are brethren," numerous representatives of the ethnic communities of Daghestan and other neighboring regions had moved to live on the fertile land of Chechnya. Up to one third of the Avars, Darghis, Andis, Kumyks, Circassians, Tartars, Kurds and others moved to live in Chechnya. Tsudakhar, Andi, Kumyk, Tartar and other communities have preserved their identity in Chechnya. The Chechens welcomed representatives of other ethnic communities, protected them and rendered them all the necessary aid and assistance. They marked off territory where the newcomers could build their homes. The Chechens and the newcomers enjoyed equal rights in the use of meadowland, community pastures and other vitally important places. They danced on rare occasions now that many families were mourning their dead and everyone felt the economic strain of the war effort. Simplified wedding rites got to take less time. That was a positive development in the life of Chechnya. On the other hand, Shamil was trying to raise the defensive potential of his Imam ate, and his people were to follow to the dot his rules for family relations and in the economic and social fields of life. Transgressors against those rules faced up to capital punishment. All male Chechens were obliged to fight the imperial troops. People were forbidden to hire mourners for funeral ceremonies. A funeral would be over after a prayer and a few words of condolence. The slightest disregard for the Shariah ban on alcoholic beverages and smoking was severely punished. No girl could stay single if she had come of age. Neither could any grown-up man. Bride ransom (kalym) was reduced because people were encouraged to get married.
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Chechen culture

Traditional Folk Arts

THE AUTHOR IS ISA ASKHABOV, AND THE TITLE IS “CHECHEN ARMS”
Unveiling the book, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Tourism in the Russian Lower House G.Omarov had this to say: “... the freshly published book “Chechen Arms” symbolizes the historical and cultural unity of all peoples in the Caucasus. It calls for peace, ethnic harmony and neighbourhood in the Caucasus area.” Archives contain next nothing on the subject and previous publications are sketchy. A whole body of facts concerning Caucasus arms and history would almost certainly have sunk into oblivion if I. Askhabov had not defied the difficult war conditions of the 1990s to collect memories and material evidence of old arms smithies in highland villages around Chechnya. His work boosted the list of known Chechen arms smiths from 14 to 162. Dr E.Astvatsaturian of Russia's State History Museum wrote a preface to Askhabov's book. She says the author's success in identifying people behind signatures and brands should enable Russian museums to correctly attribute hundreds of Chechen swords and daggers in their collections. One fine Chechen dagger at the State History Museum has been proven to be a creation of the famous arms smith Makhmad from the village of Dzhugurta. The Chechen writer A.Aidamirov praises the author for shedding light on forgotten chapters of the Chechen history as well as adding to the knowledge about traditional Chechen arms. The federal law-maker from Chechnya A.Aslakhanov says Isa Askhabov discovers dozens of new names and examines the traditional armoury as an aspect of culture rather than a collection of weapons of war. The Chechen poet M.Geshayev, member of Russia's National Writers Union, writes about his joy at encountering a work which brings to light the names of people who excelled at crafting traditional arms. Doctor of History S.Umarov says Askhabov's book is very enthralling despite a severe-sounding title. It concentrates not so much on arms as on the stories of people who made and carried them. The Chechen ethnologist S.Hasiyev hopes the book will contribute to the universal heritage by revealing new facts about the Chechen people. The author I.Askhabov will be thankful to everyone, who will submit additional information on the matter. You can send your proposals to our Website .
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