Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Members of illegal armed formations that come and confess their guilt will not be arrested, Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Sergey Fridinsky stated at a press conference on Thursday. Criminal proceedings against these individuals will not be launched either, he said. However, according to him, at the first stages all information on crimes committed by those included in the amnesty will be thoroughly checked. "There will be certain difficulties in checking the information on crimes," Fridinsky confessed. He pointed out that a great number of crimes are currently being investigated. However, not all individuals, who committed grave and especially grave crimes appearing in the cases, have been established. "It is out of the question that everyone will be freed from everything," the Deputy Prosecutor General stressed.
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Stanislav Ilyasov, the minister of the Russian Federation for the affairs of Chechnya, told Itar-Tass that the federal authorities would pay a total of 13 billion 650 million roubles to Chechen residents in compensation for the housing that was destroyed during the military operations in Chechnya. "Thirty-nine thousand Chechen families have lost all the housing. Half of the money is expected to be paid already this year," the minister clarified. Each family is entitled to receive 300,000 roubles for the lost housing and 50,000 for the lost property. Ilyasov said that Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov would consider the procedure of paying the compensations next week. He is expected to sign a relevant resolution the same week. The Chechen residents may start submitting their applications for the compensation in August. The first real payments are expected in September-October this year.
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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
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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 97
05.06.03

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

05 June 2003  Providing Guarantees of Peoples Safety Is the Grozny Administrations Special Care
Life is gradually coming to normal in Grozny. And the Grozny power structures play a key role in this positive process. This is no surprise, though: it is exactly they that must take all the necessary measures so that nothing can pose any danger to the life of the Grozny citizens. This problem became urgent enough after a series of acts of terrorism that were carried out in Chechnya recently. Therefore, securities are boosted in Grozny now. For example, the patrolling of the Grozny streets and squares is reinforced today, and the number of police stations in public places has increased there too. All these measures have for an object to prevent the terrorists from implementing their evil plans. However, it is impossible to check everybody, and sometimes the bandits use what ever chance is possible for carrying explosives to the facility the have chosen for their attack. It happens very often that unemployed young people, wishing to earn something, undertake to carry out the deadly orders. You know , unemployment is a good help for terrorists in recruiting new members for their units. Deplorably, there are still many unemployed in Grozny, especially among the Grozny youths. It is necessary to reverse the situation and to create new jobs for the young people. And the governments target programme would be a great help in this, but it is yet non-existent. The Grozny deputy mayor for power structures Supyan Makhchayev believes that the checkpoints play a key role in the prevention of terrorist attacks. He is of the opinion that they must not be dismantled in the most vulnerable from the point of security places. All the other checkpoints, whose work is non-effective, should be removed. In this case , they only hamper the traffic, creating long jams on the roads. The Grozny deputy mayor believes that it would be much easier to combat banditry in Chechnya after the presidential elections. Theres a possibility that the situation in the republic may largely change for the better immediately after.
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05 June 2003  A.Popov: Amnesty to help many Chechens return to peaceful live
Chechen Prime Minister Anatoly Popov named the Russian parliament's decision to grant amnesty to Chechen rebels "timely and important." "A large number of people, especially young ones, who were forced to join the gangs by humans or circumstances now have a real chance to return to peaceful life" , Popov told Interfax-Military News Agency. The amnesty will deliver a heavy blow to illegal armed formations, the prime minister said. "Moreover, practically no more people are joining the gangs," he noted. Asked to comment on the replacement of Grozny Mayor Oleg Zhidkov with Khozh-Akhmed Arsanov, Popov said, "Zhidkov has many proposals on the federal level. And Arsanov's young age is a drawback that goes away quickly. Let me add that he has worked a lot and even was at war. Arsanov is a representative of a family that is well-known in Chechnya. He is a mature leader with stable views." The State Duma lower house of Russian parliament on Wednesday passed in the second reading the bill "On declaring an amnesty in connection with the adoption of the Constitution of the Chechen Republic". In line with the amendments approved on Wednesday, members of illegal armed formations must voluntarily hand over weapons or military hardware by September 1, 2003 to be granted amnesty. They can apply for amnesty if they have not committed grave crimes. The final reading of the bill is scheduled for June 6.
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05 June 2003  New Chechen government will be formed within two weeks
A new government of the Chechen Republic will be formed within the next two weeks. This opinion was expressed by Federal Minister for Chechnya Stanislav Ilyasov. "There will be no serious changes in the government of the republic," he believes. Head of the Chechen administration Ahmad Kadyrov issued a decree to fully dismiss the government of the republic, as well as district administrations. He charged Prime Minister Anatoly Popov with preparing proposals for forming a new republican Cabinet of Ministers. The press service of the Chechen administration explained that "the decision on dismissing the republican government was taken in connection with the adoption of the new Constitution of Chechnya." RIA Novosti reports.
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Russia - Chechnya

Sports and tourism

Horse races date back to times immemorial. Several kinds of horse raceing were practiced as sports events. BRINK RACES required courage and excellent riding skills. A line was drawn some 15 to 20 meters away from the brink of a mountain. This is where the galloping horses were to be brought to a halt. The most skillful riders arrsted the flight of their horses at six steps from the precipice. The horses had been trained to heave down, suddenly, on their hind quarters. The horse together with the rider fell, not infrequently, into the abyss. Only highly skilled grownups qualified for this competition. Young boys were only allowed to look on. A victory in DEAD MAN'S RACES brought a man the weapons, horse, horse harness and/or clothes of a deceased villager. The wealthier, the more experienced and celebrated the deceased man had been, the more horse riders joined the competition. Teenagers, and even children, were allowed to try their luck, too. Children would usually compete for the clothes, grownups - for the weapons. The grownups were expected to hit targets while galloping full speed past them. Those who wanted to get the dead man's dagger were to ride with their own daggers clenched tight between their teeth. Boys of 12 to 15 years of age rode their horses for dozens of miles and got the dead man's headwear and less important things for a prize. This kind of horse races underwent a change in the mid-19th century. Neither the dead man's cold steel and fire arms nor his headwear were any longer handed down to the best horse riders. New suits of clothes and new footwear were bought for the purpose.
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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.
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