Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Medics of the Centre for Disaster Medicine will go to Makhachkala, Dagestan (republic in the North Caucasus bordering on Chechnya), to provide assistance to the victims of terrorist actions in Chechnya. RIA Novosti reports. According to the information department of the ministry, a Yak-42 plane of the Emergencies Ministry will take off from the Ramenskoye airfield outside Moscow in the afternoon today. It will carry medics and a ton of medicines. On May 12 a lorry loaded with explosives was blown up in the village of Znamenskoye in Chechnya, killing 55 and wounding 199 and destroying houses, including the building of the FSB department and the administration of the Nadterechny District. On May 14 a suicide terrorist woman blew herself up during a religious holiday in the Gudermes District, killing 18 and wounding 145.
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Deputy Chechen prime minister calls for more resolute crackdown on rebel leaders
A Chechen government official stated that the elimination of all rebel leaders and the end of sweep operations in the republic will put an end to terrorist attacks. "New terrorist attacks are possible as long as rebel leaders are still active in Chechnya. The presence of terrorist centers, including foreign ones, will continue to fuel tension in the republic," Movsar Khamidov, a deputy Chechen prime minister overseen security agencies, told Interfax. At the same time, Khamidov said that he "is surprised why operations" to eliminate Chechen separatists leaders, including Aslan Maskhadov, Shamil Basayev and Ruslan Gelayev, "have proved futile so far." He said that rebels do not enjoy support among the republic's population any longer, and if federal troops put an end to sweep operations, these people will disappear altogether. (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 aked 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 ...)

Russia - Chechnya

Russian regions to Chechnya

At present much effort is required so that Chechnya could become assimilated as part of the Russian Federation. This is the opinion of Vladimir Platov, governor of the Tver region.After the referendum at which the Chechen people favoured peaceful life and expressed their wish to live in the Russian Federation Russia's regions have stepped up their aid to Chechnya.And the Tver region is not an exception.Last autumn special vehicles and other equipment to extinguish fires were delivered to Chechnya from the Tver region. Late last year the region signed an agreement on cooperation with the Chechen Republic and the republic's mission was opened in the regional centre, the city of Tver. The ties between the Tver Administration and the Chechen Achkhoi-Martan region are the closest. Policemen from Tver do their service in that region and in the Kurchaloi region of Chechnya. Impressed by highly professional service of the Tver policemen the Achkhaloi-Martan regional administation has sent a letter of thanks to the Tver governor. Recently officials of the Achkhoi-Martan Administration visited Tver and met with the governor. All issues of financial and other aid to the republic were resolved to mutual advantage.The governor of the Tver region Vladimir Platov is convinced that no agreement can be made between the authorities and those who took part in terrorist acts or prepared them. He fully supports the Russian president's policy of resolute struggle against terrorism. Yet the Tver governor believes this struggle should be supplemented with measures to normalise the situation in the republic:the population should be given the opportunity to work and provide for their families. This is the only way to return to normal the situation in the republic. The Tver region has just begun rendering help to Chechnya, and ,no doubt, it will continue to contribute to this end.
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Issue 92
16.05.03

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

16 May 2003  The Restoration of Transport System in Chechnya
Transport system in Chechnya is being restored promptly and gradually becomes part of Russia's transport network. Normal highway and railway communication between the republic and the country's other regions is being adjusted. In the middle of April a central bus terminal was opened in the Zavodskoi district of Grozny.It serves as the terminal for the capital's buses and buses which travel to other towns. From there Chechnya's residents can travel to western areas of the republic, neighbouring republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Daghestan, Russia's Stavropol region and Moscow. Only recently fixed-route buses travelled from Grozny once a week. In addition, there was no permanent place for their departure which caused much trouble for passengers. From now on buses will travel every day in keeping with a fixed schedule. What is also important for passengers and drivers is to have highways repaired. The restoration of highways and bridges has been stepped up in the republic.In March a car bridge across the River Argun was put in exploitation, it is the biggest in Chechnya--some 150 metres long. The cost of the reconstruction work was some 3 million roubles, they were allocated from the federal budget for the goal-oriented programme of Chechnya's restoration. The bridge is of great importance not only for Chechnya but also for Russia as a whole since it is part of the "Kavkaz" highway connecting cities of Roston-on-the Don and Baku. Involved in the reconstruction and construction of highways in the republic are Chechen workers and builders from other parts of Russia, as well as army railwaymen and army engineers. Three army engineer batallions of Russia's various military districts have restored 60 kilometres of highways, mainly,in Chechnya's mountain regions since February. Those roads were destroyed in last summer's flood. At present army engineers of the Defense Ministry are involved in the reconstruction and construction of highways in the Achkhoi-Martan and Grozny regions. Army railwaymen have restored over 20 kilometres of railways and 14 bridges. In addition , they clear off mines at railways and give them technical service.Railway terminals are operating again in Grozny and Gudermes, suburb trains go in keeping with the schedule, and a fast train bound from Grozny to Moscow carries passengers once in 6 days. Therefore, residents of the republic do not fell themselves isolated from the rest of Russia any longer.
(more News from Chechnya)

15 May 2003  Iliskhan-yurt attack staged by three suicide bombers
It has been established that the terrorist attack in a festive crowd outside the Chechen village of Iliskhan-Yurt during a religious holiday on Wednesday was carried out by three female suicide bombers, Chechnya's acting President Akhad Kadyrov told Itar-Tass in an interview. "Two of them were wearing belts of explosives, and a third, a woman about 50 years old or so was acting as their organizer and curator. She died, too," Kadyrov said. "The women said 'We are late, please let us approach the podium' and tried to make their way towards me. Earlier they had tried to approach the leader of Chechnya's anti-extremist leader Ramzan Kadyrov (Akhmad Kadyrov's son - Tass)," the Chechen leader said. At this moment the explosion occurred. Kadyrov said the terrorist attack killed 16 people, including the three terrorists. Seventy people were injured. Twenty six of them are in hospital, including the Imam of the Gudermes district, who was standing next to Kadyrov. The Chechen leader said the terrorist attacks in Znamenskoye and Iliskhan-Yurt were part of anti-Russian activities by international terrorist organizations.
(more News from Chechnya)

15 May 2003  Federation Council speaker on terrorist acts in Chechnya
The terrorist acts in Chechnya are "links of the same chain, the same old root of world terrorism," Federation Council speaker Sergei Mironov disclosed to RIA Novosti. "They feed from the same source," said the head of the parliament's upper house. According to his words, the organizers of the terrorist acts are discontent with the federal authorities' and the Chechen people's aspiration to build a peaceful life in the republic. "The terrorist acts are directed first and foremost at civilians," the speaker believes. Three terrorist acts committed in Chechnya over the past week killed approximately 70 people and wounded more than 200.
(more News from Chechnya...)

14 May 2003  The St. Petersburg Citizens Will Drink Mineral Water From Chechnya
A Chechen delegation, headed by the republican administration head Usman Musayev has paid an official visit to St. Petersburg. This was a return visit in mid-March this year the delegation of St. Petersburg and of the Leningrad Region, led by Yuri Osipov, the administration head of St. Petersburgs Primorsky District, visited Grozny. The participants in the talks in St. Petersburg, where the receiving side was represented by vice-governor Sergei Vetlugin, touched on a package of issues dealing with the realization of the earlier reached agreements, including an agreement on cooperation between the two regions of the Russian Federation, signed on August 27th last year. Paramount attention at the talks was paid to the organization of the Chechen childrens summer vacations. Earlier the Primorsky District administration invited 20 Chechen children to take rest in St. Petersburg, and this year the number of vacationers is expected to top 400. Certain districts in St. Petersburg will receive children from certain districts in Chechnya. For example, the Primorsky District will serve as a host to children from Chechnyas Urus-Martan District and the Admiralteisky District to children from the Gudermes District in Chechnya. Each group will include 20 schoolchildren and 3 members of escort. Besides , a decision was taken to assign quotas for the Chechen orphaned children in the Kronshtadt cadet corps and in the Military and Engineering Space Academy. St. Petersburg will continue offering humanitarian aid to Chechnya. Among the immediate supplies are medicines and musical instruments. And the well-known Chechen dance ensemble Vainakh and some others, including the childrens groups from Chechnya, will take part in the festivities in St. Petersburg. Besides, the agenda of the talks included some issues concerning the setting up of joint ventures. Businessmen from St. Petersburg were interested in the possible supplies of mineral water from Chechnya. This is high-quality water, and the only problem is its transportation. The participants decided to resume the discussion of this and some other issues when St. Petersburgs governor Alexander Yakovlev goes to Chechnya after the festivities to mark the citys 300th anniversary are over. And in the meantime, says Vladimir Vetlugin, weve discussed a wide range of issues and found common ground.
(more News from Chechnya...)

13 May 2003  New Houses On the Ruins
More than 21 billion roubles will be allotted from the Russian budget this year for the restoration of Chechnya s economy and social sphere. Part of that money will be used for repair work and for housing construction. As you know, first of all , people need homes for normal life, and during the former hostilities many of the Chechen residents lost their homes. So theres no surprise that today one of the top priorities in rebuilding Chechnya is the revival of the construction industry. Wide-scale construction works started in Chechnya in September of 2001, and now it is clear that the work done is enormous: several dozen municipal apartment houses, schools, medical centres, and agricultural facilities have been built and re-built in Chechnya over a short period of time. In 2003 active construction in Chechnya will continue. Paramount attention will be paid to Grozny since 80 per cent of the destruction is in the Chechen capital. 66 per cent of the city buildings have been destroyed there, and 28 out of these 66 per cent cant be destroyed. One in three of its buildings should be built anew. But first of all it is necessary to do difficult preparatory work: to estimate the damage done and to make the calculations. Buildings that cant be restored are demolished. Later undamaged bricks and concrete blocks will be re-used. Specialists believe that 20 billion roubles are necessary for a complete restoration of the housing sector in Grozny and that it will require not less than 7 years. The federal government allots 600 million roubles every year for these purposes. More than enough building materials are necessary for the restoration and construction work in Chechnya . Today bricks are in high demand. Partially, the Grozny brickworks satisfies the republics needs in bricks. This is not enough but the local brickworks is yet incapable of producing more: most of all operations are now carried out there by hand. Today imported materials, which are several times more expensive than the ones produced in the republic, are actively used in housing construction in Chechnya . But this situation is gradually changing. There are now plans to build a plant producing building materials in Grozny . Construction waste and parts of ruined buildings, which one can meet in large quantities in the Chechen capital, will serve as raw materials. A Spanish firm producing equipment for the production of decoration materials from waste plans to take part in this project. The use of such technology will make it possible to make the construction up to 2 to 3 times faster and cheaper.
(more News from Chechnya)

Chechen History

Chechen History: Politics, Economics, Culture a new book by a young historian Zarema Ibragimova

The Moscow publishing house PRAVDA has just released a book by a graduate of the Faculty of History of Chechen State University, Candidate of History, currently working on her doctors degree at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Zarema Ibragimova. The book is entitled Chechen History: Politics, Economics, Culture and focuses on Chechnyas history in the second half of the 19th century. It features facts that are based on hitherto inaccessible archive materials, kept stored in Moscow, St. Petersbourg and Vladikavkaz. The author of the 500-page book with numerous illustrations and coloured supplementary sheets describes all aspects of the Chechen peoples life during the involved period in Chechen history, with efforts being made to reach a social and political settlement in Chechnya in the wake of the Caucasus war, as well as to carry out a military, judicial and land reform in Chechnya. The author also speaks at length about agricultural and industrial production and trade, as well as about efforts to promote Muslim and secular education.
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History of Russian-Chechen relations

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.
(in detail ...)

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