Actual News from Chechnya

News update

"Chechnya is effectively free of rebels. Only bandits who have nothing to do with the armed fight in the name of separatism remain," the republic's Deputy Interior Minister Sultan Satuyev told Interfax. The official has estimated the number of rebel group members still at large at 1,500-2,000. He said that these people are not receiving any financial assistance from abroad. "They have neither forces nor the capacity to conduct any intensive hostilities," Satuyev noted. Commenting on the possible whereabouts of Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, Satuyev said that "he is most likely in the republic." "I am confident that we will eventually catch him," he said. The deputy minister said that Maskhadov "is seeking rehabilitation. He wants to be amnestied." "Some people want Maskhadov alive, others dead, but all of them seem to be providing cover for him," he said.
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The March 23 constitutional referendum in Chechnya has noticeably stabilized the situation in the republic, Chechnya's Prime Minister Anatoly Popov told Itar-Tass in Nalchik on Friday. "Grozny streets remain very busy in the evenings, in contrast to a situation of several months ago. Extensive construction work is in progress and farms are being restored with assistance from the federal authorities. The sowing season is at its peak. This year's grain crop will be better than last year's," Popov said. Industrial enterprises are being commissioned and jobs created under a targeted federal program. As a new live is breathed into local industries, incentives are created for skilled specialists to return to Chechnya. Government grants are paid to 400,000 children under age and to 150,000 jobless. Another 200,000 receive pensions. The residents of Chechnya are entitled to the same benefits as all other Russian citizens. "The referendum has started a new chapter in Chechnya's recent, peaceful history," Popov said.
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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
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Chechen culture

Literature

Myths reveal the caveman's view of life. Such stories as "The Mother Of Snowstorms" and "How A Sinner Brought To Earth The Hog And The Sow" reveal the Chechens' earliest views of the morals and morality, praise kindness and condemn greed. Myths of a later period focus on the standoff between Man and Nature. Man is capable of gaining the upper hand in this battle and he is anxious to learn the secrets of Mother Nature. The final stage of the tribal system and the subsequent period of "military democracy" reveal an interest in human character. Myths mould the image of an ideal hero. The Chechen version of the myth about Prometheus portrays a man who gives up his life for the happiness of his people. It is, then, in times immemorial that the Chechens moulded the image of a socially important character. The Nart legends and, even later, heroic songs updated the moral values of the Chechen myths and fairy tales. The Nart epics of the 2nd century B.C. occupy the central place in the folklore of many a North Caucasian nation. But the Chechen-Ingush vein in the Nart epics sounds special. The Narts are usually portrayed as hard-working and highly virtuous giants who help people. But the Chechen and Ingush myths focus on the standoff between the Narts and the bravest of men. The stubborn struggle against the Narts leads to national consolidation: the Nart epics relate to a new stage in the Chechen cultural tradition. Their heroes protect the weak, they act in the interests of society.
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Issue 84
11.04.03

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

11 April 2003  Some of gang members killed in Chechnya were arabs
Arab mercenaries were among the members of the gang recently eliminated in Chechnya's Shatoisky district, the press service of the United Group of Troops told RIA Novosti. According to a Group representative, the police have recently managed to identify one of the killed bandits who came from some Arab country. The bandit's name is kept secret in the interests of the investigation. All the killed bandits were dressed in foreign camouflaged uniforms. A large-calibre machine-gun, a grenade discharger, 7 submachine guns, many hand grenades and several thousand cartridges were found at the site of the incident, the press service pointed out. During a recent special operation in the Shatoisky district, near the Zona settlement, intelligence officers from the Russian Defence Ministry eliminated a 7-strong bandit group. None of the intelligence officers was hit.
(more News from Chechnya)

11 April 2003  About 1,500 Chechen separatists lay down arms voluntarily
According to the Chechen Interior Ministry, about 1,500 Chechen separatists have laid down arms voluntarily and surrendered to the federal forces, Chechnya's Deputy Interior Minister Sultan Satuyev said at a press conference in Grozny, RIA Novosti reports. According to him, recently "about 1,500 thousand militants laid down arms voluntarily" in the republic. We know, that most of illegal armed units "have realised their fighting is hopeless and are ready to surrender," Satuyev said. At present "about 1,500-2,000 armed criminals operate in the republic on their own," Satuyev added. Besides, separatist mastermind Aslan Maskhadov is currently in Chechnya "seeking amnesty be all means," Satuyev said. "If they meet Maskhadov face to face, Chechen policemen will arrest him," Satuyev concluded.
(more News from Chechnya)

11 April 2003  Doctors from all across Russia work side by side with Chechen colleagues
Volunteer doctors from many Russian regions including Moscow are working now side by side with local doctors in Chechen hospitals. Late in March, a big group of top Moscow pediatricians, children surgeons and gynaecologists returned from Grozny. The Chechen healthcare system is so far focused on providing first aid. Local doctors just have no time to treat chronic patients and take prophylactic measures. And there is lack of doctors in Chechnya. The Russian healthcare ministry has decided to expand specialized aid to chronic patients in hospitals of neighboring North Caucasian regions. Leading Moscow-based clinics will receive Chechen doctors for post-diploma specialization. Children will be at the focus. Moscow hospitals are now accepting up to 500 kids from Chechnya and Ingushetia a year. The take treatment in the Russian children clinical hospital, the Moscow pediatrics and children surgery research institute and the 9th city children hospital. Head physician of the 9th hospital Petr Paradeus has been to Chechnya himself and worked in a field pediatric hospital in Gudermes. The work of the hospital was very efficient as it performed not only medical function but social one as well. This hospital is closed down now and its equipment is being handed over to another hospital in Gudermes. There is much of work in store for Russian doctors in Chechnya. Implementation of the Russian healthcare ministry program to provide Chechen children and women with medical aid will be monitored by a permanent ministry envoy in Grozny.
(more News from Chechnya...)

10 April 2003  The Number of Check-Points in Chechnya Is Being Reduced
By the end of this year over 20 check-points will be liquidated in the towns and villages of Chechnya.The command of allied troops has also taken a decision to dismantle five check-points in several regions in the plain part of the republic, including a check-point near the Koshkeldy village in the Gudermes region and another one in the vicinity of the village of Gekhi in the Urus-Martan region. This has been reported by the military commandant of Chechnya Lieutenant-General Yevgeny Abrashin. In the Chechen capital 8 check-points have been recently liquidated which allowed non-stop movement on the city's most important highways. Nonetheless, an aide to the Chief Commander of the Russian Interior Troops Vasily Panchenkov believes that Chechnya still needs check-points since they help the residents to return life in the republic to normal. During check-ups at check-points dozens of cars have been detained earlier hijacked in various regions of Russia,hundreds upon hundreds of small arms have been confiscated as well as many tonnes of oil and oil products being smuggled from the republic. During check-ups members of illegal armed groups were detained who did not want to surrender arms. The process of stage-by-stage liquidation of check-points was initiated by president Vladimir Putin.
(more News from Chechnya...)

09 April 2003  Time to think of health
The right to live is an unalienable right of every human being. High quality health care offers guarantees for the realization of this right. Much has been done in this field in Chechnya. As many as 16 out-patient clinics and 60 hospitals are functioning in Chechnya, 90% of Chechens can receive first medical aid. Medical prevention centers, first aid stations and the central hospitals of administrative districts are open around the clock. Several hospitals, with a total of 5500 beds, opened in Chechnya in 2002. Having more than 2,000 doctors and 12,000 other health care workers, Chechnya meets only 40% of its actual demand for medical personnel. Little by little, this problem will be solved. The medical school of Grozny is training 650 nurses, the University of Grozny has opened a department of medicine. Leading medical colleges of the Russian Federation will train 125 doctors for Chechnya. The Chechen reconstruction effort calls for the revival of the Chechen system of health care. The health care ministry of the Russian Federation has drawn up a two-year program for the development of the Chechen health care system.
(more News from Chechnya)

Chechen history

The current conflict in Chechnya is largely rooted in the history of Russian-Chechen relations, which include six stages.

The first stage
The first stage, which started in the middle of the 16th century and lasted until the end of the 17th century, was marked by a peaceful colonization of the region. That period is characterized by vassal-allied forms of relations between Moscow tsars and elders of Chechen communities. Moscow was trying to expand its influence in the region by political and economic means mainly. The policy was a success and Chechen communities voluntarily (by signing agreements) announced recognition of the supreme power of the Moscow state.
The second stage
The second stage, which lasted almost throughout the 18th century, marks the beginning of Russia's open military expansion to the North Caucasus. Under Peter I and then Catherine II the doctrine of colonizing the mountain areas prevalent.
Though in 1781 oaths of allegiance were officially registered the voluntary submission of Chechen communities bordering on Russian fortresses, the year 1785 marked the beginning of a powerful movement in Chechnya under the leadership of Sheikh Mansur. That was when Chechen people launched an armed struggle for freedom and independence. Sheikh Mansur was the first to make an attempt (still popular nowadays) to unite peoples of the North Caucasus into a single Islamic state. But he failed to do so.
The anti-colonial movement started in Chechnya by highlanders spread to other regions of the North Caucasus. Taking part in the resistance were mainly the lower strata . As for the rich, at first they tried to use the peasants movement to consolidate their power in the mountain communities and restore freedom of choice in relations with Moscow. Soon afterwards, they got scared of the growing anti-feudal movement of Sheikh Mansur and in a number of cases even joined Russian troops to suppress the mutinous peasants. The first imam of North Caucasian highlanders fought tsarist troops for about six years, but suffered defeat. Sheikh Mansur was captured in 1791 and died in the Schlusselburg Fortress.
The third stage
The third stage of Russian-Chechen relations falls on the first half of the 19th century. During General A.P.Yermolov's term as Commander of the Russian army in the Caucasus (1816-1827) military pressure intensifies as Russian troops continue to advance deep into Chechnya. Chechnya responds by stepping up its resistance movement, which, for more than 30 years, was headed by Beibulat Teimiev. Teimiev for the first time managed to unite most of Chechen communities. And he made an attempt to unite mountain people too by concluding an alliance between free Chechnya and feudal principalities of the North Caucasus. Beibulat Taimiev called for a peaceful solution to the conflict and wanted to avoid a big war with Russia. His treacherous murder led to the escalation of military operations.
(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.
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