Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Security services have found an archive of Aslan Maskhadov, Chechnya's president, a spokesman for the regional staff of the anti-terrorist operation, Colonel Ilya Shabalkin, told Itar-Tass. He said a cache containing arms, ammunition and the Maskhadov archive was uncovered in the village of Makhkety in the Vedeno district. The documents, most of which are dated 1999, suggest that the leader of Chechen separatists had large sums of money at his disposal at that time. One of the archive's papers is an IOU from warlord Shamil Basayev for his receiving 700,000 dollars on July 3, 1999, which was shortly before the Chechen rebel assault of Daghestan. "This once more confirms that Maskhadov financed the campaign of the bands of Basayev and and Khattab against the neighboring republic," Shabalkin said. The cache also contained copies of Maskhadov's letters to foreign sponsors, including to the leader of Turkish terrorist group Grey Wolves, Bahceri, asking for financial aid to "fighting Moslems of Chechnya". Another copy of Maskhadov' letter of December 10, 1999, was addressed to Chechnya's emissary in Georgia, Aldamov. The letter enclosed a list of wounded rebels sent to Georgia for medical treatment. "I simultaneously ask the customs service of the Republic of Georgia to assist an unhindered admission of the group of the wounded across the border," Maskhadov said in final lines of the letter. If Maskhadov is detained, these documents would be added as evidence to the criminal case against him, Shabalkin said.
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Over 3,000 Grozny residents received humanitarian aid with the help of the military commandant's offices of the city in May, a spokesman for the Grozny central military commandant's office told Interfax-Military News Agency. Servicemen also assisted Grozny residents in getting monetary grants to which they are entitled according to the law. Pensions totaling RUB44.7m (USD1.46m) were paid in the city in May. Doles totaled RUB15.7m (USD511,730). According to the press-service of the central military commandant's office, 488 citizens' appeals were registered with the Grozny military commandant's offices in May. Most of the applicants ask for social aid, such as payment of grants, distribution of other material means and foodstuffs. In addition, representatives of the military command met with civil authorities 56 times and with top clergymen 10 times. The military commandant's offices in Grozny contributed to the distribution of more than 12,000 copies of local newspapers.
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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 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 ...)

Chechen economics

Problems and Prospects For Chechen Stock-Breeding

The revival of stock-breeding is Chechnya s top priority at the moment. The delivery of a pedigree cattle from Voronezh , Rostov and Krasnodar regions late last year proved to be the first move in this direction. Authorities of the Chechen Agriculture Ministry and the state unitary dairy enterprise have selected 703 heads of cattle and 1.500 sheep. The cattle is pedigree, capable of delivering over 5.000 liters of milk annually. 20 million rubles have been allocated from the budget to this end. After examination and vaccination the cattle was distributed among the republics farms capable of looking after it properly. It has survived winter successfully and over 50 cows bred. Sour cream and cheese made of their milk are now available in shops. The development of Chechnyas livestock is prevented by an array of problems. Farms have few premises for keeping cattle, and the major processes, like watering, feeding and removing dung, are not mechanized. There are no devices for collecting fodder and milk receiving centers. Chechnya has a single dairy factory in Urus-Martan. It can resume manufacturing sour milk products and ice-cream of different sorts shortly with 1.5-2 million ruble funding. Another acute problem is the lack of pedigree bulls and equipment for cows artificial pollination. North Ossetia promises to send such equipment to Chechnya shortly as well as medicines. In 1990-1991 there were 1.200 zootechnicians and 800 vets in Chechnya. Over the past decade the number has reduced dramatically. There are enough chief specialists, but few executive staff. Russian regions relieved. During purchasing the cattle in Voronezh region officials agreed on free training of such Chechen staff in Voronezh. Deputy Director-General of Chechnyas state unitary dairy enterprise Ruslan Imranov feels sure the republics cattle will be boosted by 10 time by the end of the year if 100 million rubles are allocated from the republican budget.
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Issue 96
03.06.03

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

06 June 2003  Bashkorstan to the Students of Chechnya
A while ago Chechnya's mission in Bashkorstan requested the republic's institutes to allocate text-books and teaching aids for Chechen students who need them badly. All institutes of Bashkorstan and the republic's university expressed readiness to help. A campaign to collect books for Chechnya involved not only institutes but the republic's population as a whole. All in all some 10,000 books were collected.The cargo--books, text-books and equipment for computer classes--was loaded into two huge KAMAZ vehicles. Good relations have long been adjusted between the Chechen diaspora and the Chechnen mission in Bashkorstan and the authorities of that republic. Credit for this should go to the Bart public cultural centre which is most active in all major cultural events in the Bashkorstan. The local Chechen diaspora is rather large- some 2,000 people. Economic ties between Chechnya and Bashkorstan have also been developing successfully. An agreement on cooperation and other documents to create a legal basis for cooperation have been prepared. And a large delegation from Chechnya is expected to arrive shortly. What is also important is that Bashkorstan produces equipment for oil and gas industry which is the key sector of the Chechen economy. The two sides also discussed a possibility of organising summer vocation for Chechen children in Bashkorstan. And recently the Council of the Elders of the Grebenskoye village in Chechnya turned for help directly to the president of Bashkorstan and the elders' request was granted--together with books and text-books for Chechen institutes the president sent a humanitarian cargo to the village of Grebenskoye. As for text-books, teaching aids and fiction for young people in Chechnya, the matter was also discussed by the international students' forum entitled "The role of students in the promotion of public accord and mutual understanding in the south of Russia" which was held in the city of Krasnodar. Participating were students from 74 institutes. Among others, they took a decision to help schools and institutes of Chechnya by deliveries of books and text-books. Let those books serve as bricks in the foundation of peaceful and normal life in Chechnya.
(more News from Chechnya)

06 June 2003  Vladimir Zorin: Western public opinion growing inclined in Russia's favour on Chechen issue
The western public opinion is "slowly but surely growing inclined in Russia's favour" on the issue of federal authorities' actions in Chechnya, Vladimir Zorin, Russian Federation Minister of Nationalities Policy, said in an interview with RIA Novosti. According to the official, the recent analysis of the press and steps taken by foreign heads of state and their executive structures prove that the opinion about federal authorities' actions in Chechnya is changing for the better. "More and more politicians are coming to realise what a serious challenge Russia has been faced with, international terrorism factually nesting in its territory," Zorin underlined. Western politicians' attitudes are changing, while "the world community is growing more experienced in the issue of fighting international terrorism," the minister added. In this connection the Russian minister stressed the talks between Russian and US respective Presidents Vladimir Putin and George Bush that had been held the day before and which aired the issue of Chechnya and international terrorism. "The Russian and US leaderships are seeking to consult and co-ordinate actions fighting the new evil, and Chechnya is the advance-guard of international terrorism," Zorin summed up.
(more News from Chechnya...)

06 June 2003  UNESCO ready to assist restoring education system in Chechnya
UNESCO is ready to assist the reconstruction of the education system in Chechnya. According to Itar-Tass, UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura made the statement at meeting with North Ossetian President Alexander Dzasokhov in Vladikavkaz. He said UNESCO had gained support of large international donors to concrete projects. Matsuura lauded the achievements of North Ossetia in education and culture and expressed the hope for stability and peace in the North Caucasus, which could be restored through common efforts. Dzasokhov confirmed the readiness of North Ossetia to help solving problems of Chechen youngsters. He said that North Ossetia could be the ground for UNESCO initiatives for the entire North Caucasus.
(more News from Chechnya)

Russia - Chechnya

Sports and tourism

It was not until the 18th century that the Chechen system of physical education started taking shape. Many sports were meant exclusively for boys. The boys were to be brought up agile, strong and hardy. They were taught to bear arms and ride on horseback. They were subjected to training that made them fit to endure the deprivations and physical strain of a warrior's life. Experienced grownups were entrusted with the upbringing of seven-year-old boys. One tutor took up to 14 boys on week-long hiking expeditions to the mountains, taught them to ride on horseback and bear arms. The children took no food to the mountains: they were supposed to be able to get it themselves. What might be described as physical fitness classes were often held at the bottom of a canyon: the boys practiced sabering, arrow-shooting, wrestling, tree and mountain climbing, swimming, fencing, stone-throwing, weight-lifting and camouflaging techniques. They were taught to ford rivers with heavy munition and all their clothes on. The training sessions were held far from the village: it was undignified for the villagers to watch the trainees. Competitions were then held for the people to see what the boys had learnt. One of the games that the boys were invited to play resembles today's rugby. It is called "cheese game." A head of cheese, put into a leather bag, served for a ball. The boys formed two teams each of which had a cheese bag. The eldest villager played the role of the referee. He gave a signal for the two teams to try to get hold of each other's cheese bag and to carry both its own and the other bag to an appointed place. The players were allowed to do anything in an effort to seize the bag. They were allowed to knock one another off their feet, pin down their adversaries' heads, pinion their arms and legs, lift up and carry away the bag-holder. A cheese ball match could take hours. The onlookers cheered up their favorites with shouts and regular battle cries. Cheese ball was also played on horseback.
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Chechen tarditions

The word "Nokhchallah" does not lend itself to translation . But it may and must be explained. "Nokhcho" stands for Chechen."Nokhchallah" brings together all the specific properties of the Chechen character. It implies a whole gamut of moral and ethical norms. It may be described as the Chechen code of honor. Chivalry, gentility, diplomatic skills, manliness, generosity and reliability are the qualities which a child of a hardline Chechen family imbibes with, as they say, his mother's milk. And the Chechen code of honor is rooted in the remote days of Chechen history. In the severe conditions of bygone years a refusal to open the door to a stranger could lead to lethal frostbites. He could succumb to fatigue or famine, fall prey to a wild beast or highway robbers. The ancestral tradition which has been held sacred, demands that a stranger be welcomed in, seated by the fire, offered food and shelter for the night. Hospitality is, thus, "nokhchallah." The narrow roads and paths of Chechnya zigzag around mountain cliffs and on the brink of precipices. A fight or a heated argument may send one down into the abyss. Politeness and willingness to compromise are "nokhchallah." The strenuous conditions of their life taught the highlanders to help and support one another, which is also "nokhchallah." But "nokhchallah" has nothing to do with the Table of Ranks. There have been neither princes nor serfs among the Chechens. "Nokhchallah" is an ability to deal with people without showing your privileged position. The privileged should be extra polite and accommodating to avert hurting anyone's feelings. If two men meet and one of them is riding on horseback and the other walking, the one who is riding shall be the first to utter words of greeting. If the one who is walking is older that the one who is riding, the rider shall dismount to greet the older man. "Nokhchallah" is friendship that lasts all life: in joy and sorrow. Highlanders hold friendship sacred. Inattentiveness or impoliteness shall be forgiven if they are displayed to a brother, but to a friend - never! "Nokhchallah" is special respect for women. A man dismounts his horse before entering the village where the relatives of his mother or his wife live. And here is a story about a man who asked to spend a night in a house that stood on the outskirts of a Chechen village, without knowing that she was alone. The hostess could not reject his request. She gave him something to eat and made a bed for him. In the morning, the man realized that the woman was alone and that she had spent the night sitting by a lit lantern in the anteroom. As he was hurriedly washing up, he brushed the woman's hand with his small finger by accodent. The man cut the finger off with his knife before leaving that place. Only a man brought up in the spirit of "nokhchallah" will go to such pains to protect a woman's honor. "Nokhchallah" rules out all attempts at subjugation. Male Chechens have, since times immemorial, been brought up as protectors and trained to bear arms. "Come at liberty" is the oldest of the greetings in actual use in Chechnya. The freedom of spirit and readiness to fight to protect it is "nokhchallah." "Nokhchallah" demands that Chechens respect all other men, regardless of their social origins, family background and religious beliefs. The bigger the difference between a Chechen and someone else, the more respect the Chechen shall accord that someone. You have a chance to be forgiven for hurting a Moslem's feelings because, people say, you may meet the person whose feelings you have hurt on Judgement Day. But all is lost if you have hurt the feelings of a person of a different creed, because there is no chance of ever meeting him. The sin will stay with you forever. "Nokhchallah" is no book of do's and don't's. It is of their own free will that the Chechens obey its rules. It is a condensed formula of a Chechen way of life.
(more about chechen traditions...)

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