Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Chechen citizens may apply for compensations for property and homes lost in the course of the Chechen crisis settlement from August till November 2003. According to RIA Novosti, this decision was taken on Friday at a session with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. The compensations will be paid out as the applications are submitted. The federal bodies of power and the republic's government are charged with determining the payment procedure. The session also decided to concentrate financial resources for restoring the vital infrastructure within the framework of the Federal Target Programme for restoration of Chechnya in 2003. The federal and republican bodies will have to make a list of facilities to be restored in the first turn and to submit to the government their proposals on amending the programme.
(more...)

Head of the Chechen administration Akhmad Kadyrov has confirmed his intention to run for presidency in Chechnya. "I will run for presidency in the forthcoming elections in the republic," he said at a press conference in Interfax office on Friday. When speaking on possible rivals in the elections, Kadyrov said he "did not see them". Commenting on the sceptical attitude of some international organisations to the referendum and its results, Kadyrov announced he was not too anxious about their opinion. "They should have come and seen for themselves how the referendum was conducted," he said. He himself did not expect voters to be so active, Kadyrov said. "Forecasts expected 80 percent of the population [to take part in the referendum], but the actual turnout was 96 percent," he pointed out. When commenting on terrorist attack in Grozny, Kadyrov said that "this was a terrorist attack against civilian population, not against the republic's law-enforcement structures." "There is no war" in Chechnya, "there are bandits there," he emphasised.
(more...)

Chechen history

Chechnya | Questions and answers

This pamphlet is about Chechnya , a Russian territory which has witnessed the most tragic events over the past decade. The book is the latest update on the Chechen Republic . And this is very important, since a lack of fresh and accurate information about events in Chechnya generates many distorted conceptions and rumours - both within and outside Russia . For example, that Chechen society is allegedly inherently alien to Russia , that pro-Russian elements in the republic are marginalised; and lastly, that Russian power structures are fighting the Chechen people, rather than armed bandit groups. The reality, however, is that only with the return of the legitimate authorities are villages and towns being restored, children going to school for the first time in many years, and pensioners receiving long-forgotten pensions, i.e. a social rebirth is underway. Lying ahead are a referendum on a new Chechen constitution, and parliamentary and presidential elections. These votes will be held, despite continued attempts by bandit groups and their leaders to scupper the process of normalisation in the republic, the latest terrorist act being the bombing of the republican government building. The war being waged by Chechen separatists against federal forces and more often than not against their own co-citizens is by no means a "national liberation struggle of the Chechen people", but an episode in the overall offensive by international terrorism on the fundamental principles of modern civilisation. The facts show that being a part of the Russian Federation in no way threatens the Chechen Republic 's cultural identity, the free use of its own language, and preaching Islam. On the contrary, it was during de facto "independence" from Russia that the Chechen people suffered a humanitarian tragedy on an unprecedented scale. Hostage-taking, the slave trade and plundering came to form the economic basis of the new regime, while chaos and war became the form of its political existence. We want to emphasise once more: Chechnya is part of Russia , geographically, politically and civilisation-wise. So a hypothetical triumph of radical Islamism on its territory would be anti-historical. Such a development would signify the establishment in the midst of Europe of a Taliban-like regime, with all ensuing consequences for the international community. The corporate author - journalists of the Russian Information Agency Novosti - have attempted to be as brief as possible on providing answers to the most-often asked questions (above all posed by a foreign audience) about the Chechen issue. Hence the book's title: " Chechnya : Questions and Answers". It draws heavily on information provided by various Russian ministries and departments that in one or another way are involved in normalising life in the republic.
Russian Information Agency Novosti
(in detail ...)

Chechen ethnos

Chechens as an ethnic group

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.
(more...)

Issue 82
05.04.03

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

04 April 2003  Drug addiction in Chechnya
Chechnyas chief narco-therapist Musa Dalsaev tries to prevent people from addicting to narcotics by his daily work. He assesses the condition of people in the republic as disastrous stress. People in this condition addict to alcohol, narcotics and tranquilizers. War causes mental stress and people feel its consequences many years after the war. This the reason why doctors consider the situation in the republic as alarming. As an expert, Dr. Dalsaev sees specific for the republic the high speed of drug addiction. Foe one, people become alcohol addicted within few months though usually it takes years. Speaking to a correspondent Dr. Dalsaev said that Chechnya spends between 30 and 40 thousand US dollars daily to buy narcotics. It is no secret that this illegally earned money. This means two harmful processes, drug addiction and crime, develop hand in hand. The physicians who launched a campaign to explain the effect of drug addiction to young people alone cannot protect them. Dr. Dalsaev believes that law enforcement bodies, health care centres, the government departments and mass media must together fight against drug addiction. Then only every member of the society will understand the danger of growing drug addiction. Parents bear special responsibility for the health of their children. Childrens rehabilitation centre sponsored by the World Health Organization is functioning in Olympic Proyezd in Grozny and Dr. Dalsaev heads it. It gives psychological assistance to children who experience stress and advice parents. Psychologists and psychiatrists train parents how to help their children in home conditions. The centre provide treatments to groups and also individually. The doctors use various means to treat children, including music, arts and sport. The centre provides all treatments free of charge and on Saturdays it is open for all people who desire to get consultations.
(more News from Chechnya...)

03 April 2003  Zaindi Durdiyev's Novel "Life Continues"
The Moscow Voskresenye publishing house published Zaindi Durdiyev's book which comprises his novel "Life Continues" and a series of documentary essays entitled "The Brave and Bold". Zaindi Durdiyev was born in the village of Lakha-Nevre in the Nadtechny region of Chechnya. He is a geologist by profession. He worked in many regions of the former Soviet Union: in the Caucasus, in the Far East and in the Arctic."Life Continues" is his first literary work. The author tells about what he saw, experienced and thought. The action takes place in the 1930s to the late 1970s. The main hero, geologist Muslim Lorsanov, ponders over the heavy plight of the Vainakhs and seeks answers to his questions in history. He pins hopes for a happier future of his ethnic group on education, what he most appreciates in people is honour and noble character. Life stories of many heroes in the book remind the reader of historical personalities. Such is the life story of the main hero.When a young man he fell the victim of repressions and served his sentence in Kolyma. Prominent scientists who believed in his talent of oil reseacher rescued him. Love of a local young woman and noble conduct of his friends allowed the main hero to go through all hardship and gain freedom. Later Muslin becomes a prominent scientist, he forecasts and prospects rich oil fields. Short documentary essays in the second part of the book tell about historical personalities bold soldiers and talented writers, whose life stories have become legends. The author knew many of them personally. Zaindi Durdiyev believes that reading his book will be useful for younger generations in Russia, not only Chechens and Russians but also people of other nationalities. It will allow them to understand better that the Soviet people was unified and lived in a mighty state. All nationalities and ethnic groups fought for freedom of their country against common enemies and contributed to consolidate its might. Zaindi Durdiyev's novel has already appeared in the author's native land, in Chechnya. He has sent several hundred copies to school libraries and his colleagues, oilmen.
(more News from Chechnya...)

02 April 2003  17 new construction projects in Chechnya sponsored by Russian federal districts
Administration of the Russian president has requested all federal districts of the Russian Federation to contribute to the restoration of the Chechen republic. All seven federal districts gave preliminary agreement to do so. Each of them will build socially important objects in Chechnya at their own expense. 17 scheduled projects include schools, hospitals and social service centers. Central federal district will restore two schools in Sunzhensky and Shatoysky district. Southern district will restore schools in Nozhai-Yurt and Itum-Kalinsky districts. Law enforcement units of the Omsk and Krasnoyarsk interior departments deployed there will contract local construction organizations. Volga district will help to build two schools in Kurchaloi district. Ural district will restore two schools in Grozny and Vedeno districts. It will fund construction of social services center in Gudermes. North West district will take up construction of three schools in Urus-Martan and Shalinsky districts. It will also build a culture hall. Far East district will repair a school in Vedeno district. All the construction work is scheduled for this year. If the projects are fulfilled as planned, by the beginning of a new school year, Chechnya will have 14 more schools that is 4810 more pupils.
(more News from Chechnya)

01 April 2003  Lipetsk region signs an agreement on cooperation with Chechnya
It is an initiative by the Russian Presidents envoy to the central federal district Georgy Poltavchenko to establish patronage relations between the districts of Chechnya and the regions of the federal district. Lately, a delegation from Chechnyas Naur district has visited Lipetsk. The two sides drafted an agreement on cooperation in the restoration of the Chechen economy and social area and signed it. Speaking to our correspondent the governor of the Lipetsk region, Oleg Korolev said that residents in the region consider Chechnya as a part of Russia that needs help and were always ready to render assistance. Although the Lipetsk region is in the far north it is interested in the establishment of peace and stabilization of the situation in Chechnya. According to Oleg Korolev, the agreement signed with the Naur district is a contribution to Russias common affair. When Oleg Korolev was chairman of a collective farm cooperated with Chechen construction workers and speaks highly of their work and attitude toward people. He believes that many enterprises and banks in the region are ready to invest money in the reconstruction of Chechnya. This will make it possible to create new jobs, give money to people and inspire confidence on the future. The agreement provides for the establishment of direct links with health facilities in the region and Chechnya and increase of the number of Chechen students at the institutes and universities in the region. It strengthens relations between the two regions of Russia, which, according to Oleg Korolev, have always existed in culture, industrial production and social area.
(more News from Chechnya)

Chechen history

•Long-distance races. It was before sunrise that the competing men would meet at an appointed place. The referee, elected by the villagers, lined them up before signalling them off. The horse riders were to cover a distance of ten to forty miles. The winners got the first, second and third prizes.
• Shawl races. Two teams were formed. The horses of one of them had shawls put on their backs. The two teams were given time to ride as far away as they possibly could from each other. Then, the shawlless riders were to gallop after the other team. They were to capture the shawls and present their trophies to the referee.
• Helmet and chain-of-mail races were, probably, the most difficult kind of racing competitions. One team wore nut-twig helmets and chains-of-mail. The pursuers were to capture and put on their garb. If the latter failed to do this, the helmets and chains-of-mail were thrown, as souvenirs, to the rooting onlookers.
(more about chechen history...)

Chechen cuisine

"The Chechens, like the rest of the highlanders, avoid extremes in their eating and drinking habits. What they usually eat is chureks or corn bread with mutton lard spread on it, and wheat stew with lard in it; water is their basic refreshment." "...Unleavend wheat or barley bread baked on charcoal, milk and cheese constitute their daily menu; meat is eaten, very rarely, by the richest of the Chechens." That was written about the Chechen eating habits in the 19th century. And it was not until the late 19th century that many vegetables grown in Europe - tomatoes, cabbage, radish - had found their way to the kitchen gardens of mountainous Chechnya. Chechen farming units have, since times immemorial, been self-sufficient, with only spices and sweetmeats being bought at the market. And, although they have become familiar with the cuisines of many other ethnic communities, the Chechen women cherish the very special culinary traditions of their own.
(in detail ...)

Copyright © CHECHNYA FREE.RU