The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chechen Republic: official site. All about Chechnya| news| history| traditions| music Actual News from Chechnya News update Human Rights Commission Approves Draft Constitution For Chechnya According to the Chairman of the Russian Presidents Human Right Commission Ella Pamfilova, her Commission has approved a draft constitution for Chechnya. She said experts have had just several pretty constructive remarks, but she declined to elaborate. Ella Pamfilova pointed out the Commission has issued its conclusions on a range of other legislative acts as part of the public control of human rights implementation. It has also decided to continue making assessments permanently. To this end an expert council is to be set up to embrace prominent lawyers, scientists and human rights activists. [http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=Moseng] more...) Grozny Residents Hail Report On Check-Points Reduction According to the military commandant of the Chechen capital, Grozny, Major-General Grigory Fomenko quoted by ITAR-TASS, eight federal check-points are to be taken down in Grozny. The decision has been reached by the federal anti-terror command in the North Caucasus. Near the square of Minutka servicemen have already de-blocked the Lenin Street linking the Oktyabrsky district with the downtown. Over the past three years the street has been closed for traffic. Now three bus routes have been resumed. According to opinion polls in Grozny, local residents welcome the reduction of check-points in Grozny and other parts of Chechnya. According to Chechnyas military commandants office, 60 check-points still remain in the republic compared to 192 in the same period last year. One-fifth of them is to be cut. ([http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=Moseng] more...) Religion in Chechnya Kunta-Khadzhi Kishiev the Chechen Mahatma Gandhi All about Chechnya, chechens. Chechen Republic | news| history| traditions| music The nature of Kunta-Khadzhis teachings is best reflected in his sermons and instructions that were collected from accounts by murids of the Kunta-Khadzhi fraternity. The most serious of works about the life of Kunta-Khadzhi is a book by philosopher Vakhit Akaev, which is called Sheikh Kunta-Khadzhi. Life and Teaching and which came out in Grozny in 1994. The author writes: Islam that got established in Daghestan, Chechnya and Ingushetia is of specific nature, which formed under the influence of Sufism. The Sufi Order facilitated dissemination and strengthening of Islam in the North Caucasus. It got stronger in Daghestan in the 19th century, when many representatives of official Islam stopped following the Koran and Sharia and began to encroach on the rights of the poor in favour of the ruling classes. That prompted Imam Gazi-Muhammad to declare gazavat or holy war on the ruling clique of mountaineers and expansionist policy of tsarism in the North Caucasus. The Kadiri tarikat, a social movement and religious concept, known in the North Caucasus as Zikrism, emerged at the end of the Caucasian war and at the initial stage its ideology differed radically from the concept of holy war. The founder of Zikrism Sheikh Kunta-Khadzhi, a native of the Chechen village of Ilskhan-Yurt, appeared on Chechnyas political scene at a time when people, weary of continuous war with the tsarist regime, needed peace. Kunta-Khadzhis sermons calling for peace, brotherhood and support for the poor and orphans found a response among the people, driven to the point of physical extermination. Central in his sermons were the ideas of non-resistance to evil with violence, renunciation of military actions against the tsarist regime, which outnumbered mountaineers in military might, and appeals for submission. Kunta-Khadzhi was fully aware of the fact that irreconcilable resistance to the tzarist regime might result in a complete of annihilation of Chechens. It was that very circumstance that made Kunta-Khadzhi appeal to the idea of ending the bloodshed and returning to peaceful life. Zikrism ideology ran counter to the concept of holy war, or gazavat, which called for continuing the struggle till final victory. Shamil pursued Kunta-Khadzhi for his anti-gazavat ideas. ([http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng§ion=religioneng &row=3] in detail ...) Russia - Chechnya Keeping Hippocratic oath Russian Physician Bekirov is a respected in mountain regions of Chechnya All about Chechnya, chechens. Chechen Republic | news| history| traditions| music One wonders what Chechen patients appreciated most in the Russian physician Victor Bekirov his professionalism, humanness or genuine mans courage. Over the past three months 895 local residents have made appointment with him. Victor Bekirov served in a medical unit of the temporary interior department of the Itum-Kalin region of Chechnya. But once the entire region learned about him. In the village of Tasbichi 3-year old Islam Ilaldaev left alone fell down to a shell-hole full of water. He was trying to get out crying loudly, but only hours after his absence was noticed. The child was absolutely exhausted and lost consciousness on his way to hospital. A medical assistant of the regional hospital run out into the street, stopped the first car and sent a woman to Russian policemen to ask them to call for a doctor. As he heard a crying woman trying to explain him what had happened, pediatrician Victor Bekirov seized his bag and left the place even without an arm or guards. He reanimated little Islam: at first he felt weak pulse and some 50 minutes after the boy opened his eyes and his lips moved. But the diagnosis was far from encouraging brain hypoxia, coronary deficiency and cooling of the organism. The doctor had no time to consider security and decided to bring immediately the boy to a children reanimation in Grozny in an ordinary Niva jeep instead of emergency vehicle. The road was regularity fired on by rebels. But the car was rushing at full speed along the highway of 150-200 car long columns, which had to let them pass through. Twice the car stopped to provide emergency aid to the boy. Finally, they arrived in the Grozny hospital late at night but in time. Local doctors silently shook hands of Viktor Bekirov. The boy was rescued. In two weeks Islam together with his parents visited doctor Bekirov to thank him. ([http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng§ion=shipeng&row =1] more...) Issue 72 28.02.03 Chechnya: news | arguments | facts 'Chechen Republic: official site. All about Chechnya| news| history| traditions| music' 01 Mart 2003 Nozhai-Yurt: Starting From Scratch The head of the Nozhai-Yurt district administration, Isita Gairibekova believes that the 1999 signaled the start of a whole new life for the republic. Starting virtually from the ground up, the district has since come a long way, both socially and economically. Thats what she told our correspondent. We have restored 13 schoolhouses here, which is very gratifying because an uneducated people have no future. Five local first aid and maternity wards have been restored, along with a 50-bed district hospital and the districts central hospital is under reconstruction now with its maternity and surgery wards slated to open already before the end of this month. Chechnyas first restored community center is right here, in Nozhai-Yurt playing host to celebrations, festivals and concerts. Hundreds of local kids are attending the wealth of special-interest circles available here. They recently even managed to invite here two choreographers from the Vainakh folk dance ensemble to teach would-be dancers here. They recently built a gas pipeline here to service 25 more local villages. A hundred of residential houses have already been restored and hundreds more will be available shortly. And all this, Isita Gairibekova admits, has been done with little, if any, federal help and largely on money donated by local businessmen. Isita Gairibekova admires these people who invest their money in the noble cause of rebuilding their war-ravaged country. She has special respect for Kazbek Companys chief executive Ilmadi Abuyazidov, whose construction teams are hard at work all across the district. The locals regularly get their pensions and benefits and the state sector workers their salaries. Now that the people finally have money on their hands, the administration has opened a chain of stores and kiosks. Life here is getting increasingly closer to normal, Isita Gairibekova says, thats why people here are going to actively participate in the upcoming referendum to vote to a new, better, life [http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=diaryeng] (more News from Chechnya) Chechen Republic: official site. All about Chechnya| news| history| traditions| music 28 February 2003 Chechnyas Mufti, Shamaev considers the referendum as the first step toward a settlement The council of muftis in Russia has ended in Moscow. Here is an opinion from Chechnyas mufti Akhmed-Haji Shamaev who arrived in Moscow to attend the meeting. Akhmed Shamaev focussed on the referendum in Chechnya. He believes that referendum is useful. He pointed that referendum cannot solve all problems before the republic. But it will be the first step toward a peaceful settlement. According to Mufti, Chechen people can only decide how they should live, whether in a parliamentary or presidential republic and what should be its constitution. Mufti Shamaev believes that administration and religious figures must work hard after the referendum. Concerning his visit to Jordan and Libya together with Akhmed Kadyrov, he said that the Chechen delegation had meetings with Chechen diapora, Jordanian Minister for religious affairs, the supreme religious leader and students of Islamic institutes. These people listened carefully to the report by the Chechen delegation on the situation in the republic. Both Libya and Jordan showed keen interest in the situation in Chechnya. Concerning the religious department mufti Shamaev said that many Moslems in the republic made pilgrimages to Mecca this year. He expressed gratitude to the parliamentary faction of Unity for financing the pilgrimages of 150 people. He said that during the id al adha holidays several blood feud families were reconciled. Chechnyas Mufti wished peace to the republic, conflicting factions started a dialogue and missing people returned to their families. [http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=diaryeng] (more News from Chechnya...) Chechen Republic: official site. All about Chechnya| news| history| traditions| music 27 February 2002 The Chechen constitution project is being published in Saratov Collaboration, support, and help are constant directions of relations between Saratov region and Chechen republic. The Sratov regional governor Dmitri Ayatskov pays much attention to this problem. In his phone talk with our correspondent, Ayatskov phrased his sureness that peaceful life in Chechnya is a common concern of all the Russian regions, and every man of this country. We need peace in North Caucasus, and we should aid its development by all means, believes Ayatskov. The Saratov region administration receives many letters from Chechnya with pleas to help, and they really try to help as much as they can. The administration provides food, schoolbooks, and notebooks for children, organizes childrens and veterans holidays, and renews schools. Now, when the referendum in Chechnya is about to be held, the Sratov region governor decided to publish in local typographies 100 thousand brochures with the text of the future constitution of Chechnya. The brochures are printed in Chechen. They will be delivered to the republic, however part of them will remain in Saratov. The Chechen society in Saratov region is over 17 thousand people. They live well, provided with work and homes. The young people have an opportunity to study: nearly 100 Chechen students get higher education. Chechens participate in culture and sport events. By the way, the team from Chechnya has recently won gold in local kickboxing cup. Dmitri Ayatskov believes that even life in Chechnya returns to normal, Chechens will hardly leave their homes in Saratov, since they feel really well living there. [http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=diaryeng] (more News from Chechnya...) ________________________________________________________________ Chechen ethnos The invasion of Tamerlane All about Chechnya, chechens. Chechen Republic | news| history| traditions| music An even more fearsome invader, Tamerlane, followed on the Tartar-Mongols' heels. He had defeated the Golden Horde before making an incursion into the mountainous part of Chechnya and destroying the reviving villages and towns. He did away with the Simsim Khanate of Islamic Chechnya whose ruler, Gayur Khan, was an ally of the Golden Horde. Tamerlane's forces numbered up to half a million fighting men. But in Chechnya Tamerlane met with stiff resistance. And it was only after several attacks by his hundredfold stronger forces that Tamerlane managed to seize control of the mountainous villages. That is why in Chechnya the Lame Timur - Tamerlane - was cruel as never before. He turned the hostilities into a regular bloodbath. Villages were burnt down and razed to the ground both on the plains and in the mountainous part of Chechnya.The ancestors of today's Chechens would not bow down to the invaders. But to fight off Genghiz Khan's and Tamerlane's hosts, they had to bring to perfection their system of defensive installations. The highest density of population, the lack of arable land forced them to take advantage of every mountain slope and every small plateau. They had gained experience in terracing the reclaimable land. They brought soil and humus to their terraced fields and kitchen gardens.Dwelling and defensive towers made of mountain rock, as well as the multitiered crypts of more than 500 "cities of the dead," can still be seen in the mountainous part of Chechnya. Magnificent monuments of architecture are located in the Argunski, Assinski and Dzherakhovski Canyons, and in the environs of the high-altitude lakes of Kazenoi-Am and Galanchozh. ([http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng§ion=etneng&row= 11] more ...) Chechen culture Traditional Folk Arts THE HISTORY OF CHECHEN WEAPONS All about Chechnya, chechens. Chechen Republic | news| history| traditions| music There are many things that life in the mountains taught Chechens. They are excellent huntsmen, soldiers, fortification builders and armourers. The earliest Chechen arms were made of stone and wood. Sharp-pointed and round stones were catapulted by means of a sling from high fortress towers. Long-range offensive weapons included the so-called "javelin-thrower". This pure Chechen invention consisted of a pair of wild goat's sabre-shaped horns fixed on a wooden stand with leather belts or goat tendons stretched between their ends. For close combat the Chechens had clubs, leather-covered shields and chain mails. Projectile wooden weapons such as bows, arrows and spears were made of hornbeam. Growing in abundance in Caucasian forests, the hornbeam tree was considered sacred and was not allowed in construction. Young shoots were used for making arrows. Flat-shaped and feathered, they were shot from a huge, heavy two-string composite bow with horn on the belly and sinew on the back, the shaft often wrapped in leather. Shooting from such a bow at a galloping speed requred strength, sharpsight and coordination of a horseman. Chechens were expert in archery. Arrows and bows were used until the early 18th century. With the appearance of metal the Chechens became famous for their sabres, cavalry swords and daggers. A folk saying "a sabre as fierce as a bear" stems from an ancient steel-tempering technology in which bear's fat was used. The secrets of steel-tempering were strictly guarded and passed from father to son. Here is one of them: a white-hot steel plate attached to a long rope was thrown into a precipice and then lifted quickly. The friction of steel against air was said improve its quality. It took an armourer and an apprentice some two weeks to make a dagger and more than month to make a sabre. Daggers were especially popular. They were used in combat, labour, hunting and even dancing. Before the Caucasian war daggers were not very sharp. A soldier who stubbed an enemy with a dagger was considered a poor fighter. In defense Chechens were as inventive as they were virtuosos in the production of assault armory. Khalkhan - a metal bear-spear half a meter in length, with a thick wooden haft - was a specifically Chechen means of defense the object of which was to catch and break the sword of the enemy. It was also used as a support stand for a flint gun. The Chechens were very proud of their weapons. They adorned their houses with sabres and guns, hanging them on a carpeted wall for everyone to see. Even poor men preferred to have high-quality weapons. EXCERPTS FROM THE LATEST BOOK ABOUT TRADITIONAL CHECHEN ARMS The following are excerpts from 'Chechen Arms'. This lifetime work of Isa Askhabov is a comprehensive encyclopedia on the subject, with hundreds of references and at least as many illustrations captioned in Russian and English. SHASHKA It's a kind of sword.The name of it derives from the Chechen word 'sashkho', which means 'a long knife'. A good shashka is feather-light, vine-flexible and razor-sharp. The most prized shashka types are 'gurda', 'kaldam' and 'ters-maimal' ('little wolf'). Such weapons were highly valued by Russian army officers in the Caucasus as well as local Chechens and Cossacks. An outstanding specimen was the object of envy and sometimes of armed contest for the possession of it. A 19th-century Russian writer describes instances when dozens died in fierce fights over the dead body of the last owner of a really good shashka sword. The 'little wolf' is so flexible it can be placed into a 40-centimetre sieve. Taking it out without suffering harm is a challenge indeed. 'The waking of a Chechen wolf' is the traditional name of the exercise. DAGGER A fragment from a poem by Alexander Pushkin in the epigraph describes the dagger as the ultimate judge and custodian of freedom.Archaeologists keep digging up two types: the polished and the burnished, both up to 60 centimeters long and up to 9 centimeters wide. Over the 19th century, the dagger grew much smaller and lighter as its combat role diminished and habits changed. The blade, however, remained superb.A good Chechen dagger could cut blacksmith's tongs in two.A 19th-century ethnographer reports discovering a dagger with one of its sides like a saw. This saw, he says, could cut tempered steel. The late 19th-century arms maker Talkhig forged daggers from British sewing-machine needles. Each remained easily discernible in the finished product, as if the maker had only covered them all with a layer of varnish.An outstanding dagger could change hands for several dozen sheep.The villages of Bolshiye Atagi and Maliye Atagi were clusters of smithies turning out daggers and swords ([http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng§ion=ctradeng&ro w=3] in detail ...) Copyright (C) [http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng] CHECHNYA FREE.RU [http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?section=projectrus&lng=eng] [mailto:info@chechnyafree.ru] -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=news.media.chechnyafree http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com