Actual News from Chechnya

News update

The Council of Europe and the OSCE will send out a joint mission to Chechnya to test the ground ahead of a forthcoming constitutional referendum there slated for March 23. The CEs headquarters in Strasbourg announced the decision on Thursday as reported by RIA Novosti news agency. Top CE and OSCE officials met in The Hague Wednesday agreeing to hold regular consultations on Chechnya. They deplored their recent failure to secure Russian consent to extend the mandate of an OSCE technical assistance group in the republic.
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Last year the number of Chechen refugees in Ingushetia went down by twice with only 66,500 people still living there. Addressing top ministry officials in Moscow earlier this week, Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov said that 5,500 refugees had voluntarily returned to Chechnya from their encampments in neighboring Ingushetia. He also said that 80,000 people mistakenly put on the refugee lists had been taken off thus saving about a billion rubles of state funds.
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Chechen economics

The Chechen economy now employs 360 thousand people. There will be many more jobs as rebuilt food processors come on stream. Engineers in Grozny are installing modern equipment on the site of what is supposed to be the biggest dairy plant in the Russian Caucasus. In Argun, documentation is ready for the rebuilding of a meat processing factory. Construction teams are breaking ground on the site. Hundreds of new jobs are forthcoming together with new possibilities for Chechnya's cattle, sheep and poultry farmers. A partially rebuilt sugar refinery in Argun currently employs 200. They prepare beet for sugar extraction at a refinery in the region of Krasnodar, which currently supplies Chechnya with sugar. As soon as more reliable electricity is available, Argun will start turning out sugar itself. This should create new jobs. A big food plant in Shali - once famous across the Soviet Union - is turning out wild apple and buckthorn juices and jams once again. The output is still very moderate, but new and new products come off production lines as repair work gathers pace. They include pasta and all kinds of sweets. Pickled wild onions from Shali have won gold at a national foods contest in Moscow. Expert management by production director Shakhbudi Batayev helps the company keep down costs and sell its produce at lower-than-average factory-gate prices. The revival of large-scale state-operated food processing strengthens social stability as well as spurring on farming. People with full-time jobs, regularly paid wages and annual leaves consolidate the feel-good factor in Chechnya.
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Russia - Chechnya

Revival of Chechen culture

Russian intellectuals have joined the governments programme to restore Chechnyas cultural facilities. The board of senior officials of the Ministry of Culture at its meeting decided to support Chechnya. Chekov Academic Theatre in Moscow and Oleg Tabakov theatre-studio appealed Russian theatres to give financial aid to restore Nuradilov theatre in Grozny. According to the Chechen Minister of Culture Movla Osmaev, this will need 8 million rubles. Oleg Tabakov said that the theatres headed by him were ready to give 5 percent of the money needed to restore the theatre. The head of the Bolshoi Theatre said he would give another 10 percent for this purpose. The board meeting also decided to give books from the private collections of it members to Chechen libraries. Minister of Culture Mikhail Shvydkoi said he was ready to make the first contribution from his home library. The director-general of the studio Mosfilm Karen Shakhnazarov will make a contribution to restore the Chechnyas film-fund. He will send video tapes of new feature films to Chechnya.
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Religion in Chechnya

At different times forefathers, forebears and ancestors of Chechens and Ingushes (Veinakhs, Nakhs) had different religious beliefs. Apparently, male and female names Khalad, Anu, Ashura, Alalu, Ashtati, Nanna, Diki, Kibela, Nuba-dit, Aruba and Kuzhukh date back to early paganism, the times of Hurri-Urartu states. Between 3000 and 1000 B.C. the names were used to call various gods. As a rule, every natural phenomenon or heavenly body had ts own god. Depending on the nature of the wish offerings were made to this or that god, be it the god of sun, rain, war, love or fertility. Religious traditions are the most lasting ones in the culture of an ethnic group. They stay on even after conversion to another faith. In the Chechen community you can still hear vows such as Tsu dashochu malkhor (Swear by golden sun), Tsu lyattor (Swear by earth), Tsu byapkor (Swear by bread). People pronouncing vows of this kind will be deeply hurt if they are told that by doing so they depart from Islam and commit a grave sin. The pagan and Christian past of ancestors and forefathers of Chechens and Ingushes is reflected in legends, folklore, ancient and medieval cultural monuments and archaeological discoveries. The Assinovsky gorge is known to have three Christian temples (Tkhaba-Yerda, Albi-Yerda and Targimsky). Similar temples and churches, according to legends, were also in other parts of the mountain chain but Tkhaba-Yerda was the biggest, occupying more than 100 square meters. Rich Christian burial places were discovered under the churchs floor and by its walls. The temple, experts say, was built no later than the 10th century A.D. by Georgian architects, who wanted it to be the biggest church in Central Caucasus. According to researchers (M.B.Muzhukhoev. The Spread of Christianity among Veinakhs), Tkhaba-Yerda Temple was erected on the site of a heathen temple devoted to Tkhaba deity. Today the name is etymologized on the basis of Nakh languages and is compared to the ancient pagan deity Tkhya.The process of christianizing Chechens and Ingushes got further development during the reign of the Georgian Tsarina Tamara. Indications of that were the appearance of two new churches around Tkhaba-Yerda.
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Issue 66
07.02.03

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

07 February 2003  Russian Justice Minister Yuri Chaika: Chechnya has every condition to hold a referendum on Constitution
Chechnya plans to hold a referendum on the republics constitution on the 23rd of March. Russian Justice Minister Yuri Chaika believes that the adoption of the constitution will help to stabilize the situation in the republic and makes it possible to form legislative and executive bodies. He noted that at present Chechnya has full-fledged ruling bodies. For one, notaries, lawyers are working in the republic and prisons are functioning. According to the head of Justice Ministrys department for Chechnya Bek Baskhanov, the judicial workers do their best to prepare for the referendum. They explain people the need for holding a referendum to form legitimate ruling bodies. At present the judicial bodies, Bek Baskhanov said, control the judicial situation in the republic in full. People, including those in the remote areas get qualified help from judicial workers. Notarial offices and death, birth and marriage registration offices are functioning in Vedeno, Nozhai-Yurt and Shatoi districts. The appeals by residents for birth certificates and carrying out notarial deals have increased twice compared to the period between 2000 and 2001. Chechnya has quite sufficient professional lawyers. All the members of the judicial staff are graduates. The department will continue to build houses of justice, which are centres where legal services are concentrated. There are five such houses in Naur, Nadterechny and Urus-martan districts and Gudermes. The government has given money to build such houses. Another task before the Chechen lawyers is linked with the acquaintance of the civil code to the residents. The department plans to hold seminars in several districts to explain the residents the laws of the Russian Federation.
(more News from Chechnya)

06 February 2003  Chechnya in the run-up to referendum
Preparations for a referendum on the draft of a Constitution of the Chechen republic, slated for March 23rd, are in full swing in the republic. The electoral commission has got a plan of action in the run-up to the referendum and the authorities are busy forming polling stations and making lists of participants in the referendum. On January 19th the Vesti Respubliki government newspaper published the texts of the draft of the Constitution and electoral legislation in Russian. The edition came out in 40 thousand copies against the usual 10 thousand and sold in all districts across Chechnya as well as among Chechens living in Ingushetia. In addition, 540 thousand copies of the draft Constitution and two electoral laws in Russian and Chechen are printed in Moscow and sent to Chechnya. All news media in Chechnya have election pages reporting the location of electoral commissions, borders of electoral districts, the voting procedure etc. Billboards have been made which will be put up all over Chechnya. Free legal counseling points are open in Grozny and five rural areas where people can consult highly-qualified solicitors, legal advisers and law teachers on all matters of interest and all articles of the Constitution. In Grozny there is also a hot-line phone number that people can dial for whatever questions they have to ask about the coming referendum. The hot-line operators are members of an initiative group and experts in electoral legislation. It is available daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. The Government of Russia is planning to allocate 59 million rubles for the referendum. 380 electoral commissions are to be formed in Chechnya. Along with stationary there will also be mobile electoral districts, since many Chechens live outside the republic, in makeshift camps in neighbouring Ingushetia. The republican electoral commission has to be provided with technical equipment and uninterrupted telephone communication otherwise, a referendum will never go ahead. Workers of local electoral commissions are supposed to attend a two-day seminar to be drilled in the rules and procedures of holding a referendum. And in view of the current situation in the republic its also necessary to guarantee security to members of electoral commissions. To this end, all electoral districts will be provided with round-the-clock security monitoring and members of electoral commissions with security guards. According to public opinion surveys in Russia in the run-up to the referendum, nearly half of Russians (46%) support the idea and only 16% are against. 4% of the respondents doubt the voting will be free of bias. 42% expect no particular changes after the referendum and 8% believe that a referendum will stabilize the situation in the republic. In Chechnya proper the survey was conducted by the Sociological Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences Ural branch. As it became clear, the majority of people of Chechnya (97%) believe that the republic should stay within the Russian Federation. 68% are planning to take part in the referendum. 70% believe that the anti-terrorist operation should continue until the last of the rebel gangs have been wiped out. Most of the respondents over 50 say the separatist leader Maskhadov has discredited himself in the eyes of Chechens because whatever he does is oriented to gratify his personal ambitions. Preparations for the referendum are now the main priority. The adoption of a Constitution and election of a president and parliament are bound to play a decisive role in the restoration of peace in Chechnya.
(more News from Chechnya...)

05 February 2003  International assistance to Chechnya in 2003
International organizations are contributing to economic and political stabilization in the Chechen republic. The International Red Cross Committee plans to allocate 26 million dollars to provide assistance for people in the North Caucasus and the south of Russia. The help to Chechnya will be confined to the territory of the republic. According to the annual plan, households will receive more economic assistance. Shipments of medication, surgery facilities, syringe and wheel chairs to Chechen hospitals are now underway. The Red Cross mission will ensure drinking water supply to the population. Sanitary-technical efforts and mine security instruction are in the pipeline. Along with the federal authorities, the Red Cross is also participating in the restoration of the orthopedic center in Grozny. The mission intends to move the focus from emergency relief to the reconstruction of Chechnyas infrastructure. The European Commission has decided to earmark 3 million euros to provide food for the destitute in Chechnya and displaced persons in Ingushetia. The effort covers 253 thousand people. On December 31, the mandate of the Chechnya-based assistance team under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe expired but the Russian leadership intends to continue cooperation with this organization. This was said in a message by the Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov to Netherlands acting Prime Minister Jacob de Hoop Scheffer. Russia is ready to consider other forms of cooperation with the organization, above all through its affiliates, for one, the Bureau for democratic institutions and human rights. Head of the Russian Central Elections Committee Alexander Veshnyakov had earlier submitted to the Bureau and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe detailed information on the preparations for the referendum on the draft of a Chechen Constitution slated for March 23 and presidential and parliamentary elections in the republic. Texts of a Chechen Constitution and law on the presidential elections in Chechnya have also been sent to the OSCE. Minister Ivanov expressed hope that the Bureau that was initially set up as a bureau for free elections to promote contacts and share elections information among member-states will be able to provide expertise for elections monitoring. Russia is closely working with the PACE in the political settlement in Chechnya. In January, a PACE delegation led by lord Judd visited Moscow, Grozny and Nazran to prepare a report on the situation in Chechnya. Chief reporter of the Assembly and co-chairman of the PACE-State Duma working group on Chechnya lord Judd believes the international community is interested in a successful political solution for the issue of Chechnya. Such a solution, he said, will be a compelling proof of the ability of the international community to settle conflicts politically despite claims of Islamic extremists. Sessions of the working group will be shortly resumed.
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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.
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Chechen culture

Chechen Language

Chechen, together with Ingush and Bats, belongs to the Veinakh group of the Iberian-Caucasian family of languages. The Chechen and Ingush languages have developed a written tradition. Not so the Bats language. The earliest description of the Veinakh languages is found in the Big Comparative Dictionary of Russian Empress Catherine the Great (second half of the 18th century.) The Dictionary presents about 400 Chechen words and their Ingush and Bats equivalents. Baron P.K. Uslar described the Caucasian languages on instructions from the general staff of the Russian Army. His voluminous "The Chechen Language" came off print in 1888. It contains a grammar of the Chechen language.
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