Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said he was ready to negotiate with Moscow over new dates of withdrawing Russian military bases from the territory of the republic. "The withdrawal of bases from the Georgian territory is a serious issue for Russia," Saakashvili said in an interview with the French newspaper La Monde published on Tuesday. "Moscow which has bases in Georgia and Armenia, has legitimate security interests on its southern borders, and we are ready to discuss these issues," he said. The president stressed that the parties can discuss new dates of withdrawal, but within reasonable limits. Saakashvili stated that Georgia should be a country closed to terrorists. At the same time he said he "did not believe that al Qaeda militants were in the Pankisi Gorge near Chechnya." "I don't believe in it, because after September 11, their sources of finance were busted and we maintain a reliable control on our borders, thanks to U.S. military support," the president said. "Incidentally, I've always believed that humanitarian assistance to Chechnya was a normal practice. We feel no hostility toward Chechens, but Georgia should be a country closed to terrorists," Saakashvili emphasized.
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Chechen residents received 450 million roubles last year for lost housing and property during combat operations. A total of 1,285 families received compensations, Itar-Tass learnt from Chechen First Deputy Finance Minister Luiza Khachukayeva. The first tranche from the federal centre for this purpose amounted to 350 million roubles in 2003, while the second 100 million. All in all, around 40,000 families are to receive compensations to a total sum of 14.5 billion roubles, Khachukayeva said. A compensation is paid 300,000 roubles for lost housing and 50,000 roubles for property. Payment of cash is under personal control of Chechen President Akhmat Kadyrov. A special commission was set up in the republic with the participation of representatives from the Interior Ministry and the prosecutors office at the republican government to check applications. (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
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Chechen economics

The Russian Kraftway computer company expands operations in Chechnya

Kraftway assembles and markets computers and networking equipment. It has supplied heaps and heaps of all this to regional agencies in Chechnya. Under a three-year agreement with Kraftway, Grozny's KomTi has established a service centre for repairing and upgrading Kraftway hardware in the Chechen capital. Repair services include the supplier's guarantees. All orders are performed within two days. Consultation, expendables and latest software are available. Kraftway's deputy CEO for regional operations Mr Igor Murashkintsev says the presence of a top-notch Kraftway service centre on Chechen territory should help his company dramatically expand business in Chechnya. He pins great hopes on all-round normalization in the republic.
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Issue 156
08.01.04

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

08 January 2004  Dozens of repentant rebels turn themselves in and return to normal life
In the run-up to Russia's latest general elections on December 7, 44 repentant separatist rebels, including warlords, turned themselves in. All are between 20 and 40 and come from the Districts of Naurskaya, Kurchaloy and Nozhai-Yurt. Two have been found to have complicity in capital crime, and they are facing criminal charges against them. The 42 others are welcome to return to normal life. Each has been offered a job in the economy that matches his skills or a position in the regional security force of the Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov. The 44 men surrendered what amounts to a truckload of firearms. There are machine-guns, grenade launchers and dozens of automatic assault rifles. Each item will undergo forensic scrutiny for involvement in gun crime. Rebels are usually aware of this and those who ever shot anyone think twice or thrice before making a surrender bid.
(more News from Chechnya...)

07 January 2004  Normal life supposes normal health care
The central hospital of the District of Sunzha is in every aspect typical for Chechnya. It has an emergency ward, an outpatient department, an inpatient department for adults with 40 beds and an inpatient department for children with 20 beds. The latter has been functional for over a year and it provides attention for almost every condition that occurs in children. In April 2003, construction teams completed an overhaul and renovation of the Sunzha Hospital. The hospital now has central heating and an asphalt courtyard. Each patient receives three hot meals each day, all individually tailored by an experienced dietologist. Non-ambulatory patients get meals in their beds. In the past several months, the Health Ministry and the National Health Insurance Fund have significantly improved the supply of medicines to the Sunzha Hospital. The hospital offers cardiography and anonymous testing for HIV-AIDS. Of the problems, Deputy Head Physician Dr Malika Murtazova singles out pressing needs for an intensive therapy unit, for a fully-fledged surgery ward instead of a small surgery room, for a casualty ward, for ultrasound diagnostic equipment and for an X-ray machine. The spread of TB, of which there are over 50 known cases in the District, and an influx of returning refugees call for broader and more frequent medical checks in the local population. There are considerable problems with staffing as displaced villagers stream back whereas fugitive medical workers continue to pursue careers outside Chechnya. Dr Murtazova says she expects more help from the government of her Shelkovskaya District and from the regional authorities in Grozny.
(more News from Chechnya...)

06 January 2004  A children's charity foundation helps Chechnya
A children's charity foundation whose board of trustees is headed by Tamara Kazantseva has launched more than 50 projects since its registration date - April 23, 2001. It reaches out to all corners of southern Russia and takes care of Chechen children: raises money for rehabilitation programs and supplies young Chechens with school books and fiction novels. It deals with all kinds of children's problems but pays special attention to orphaned children. On agreement with the Office of President Putin's emissary in the Southern federal district and the Chechen government, the lion's share of humanitarian aid is directed to boarding schools and orphanages. Young victims of the war action receive medical assistance and psychological advice. Many thousands of small Chechens spent their summer vacations in the resort cities of Tuapse, Anapa and Sochi that lie on the coast of the Black Sea, in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic and in the spa city of Mineralniye Vody. On invitation from the same charity foundation, they take annual trips to Moscow. A group of gifted Chechen children took part, also on the charity's invitation, in a festival of Russian literature in the city of Krasnodar. There is no end to the list of what this charity has done for the younger generation. The charity's sensitive and kind-hearted staff workers see what they are doing as their regular way of life. The chairperson of the charity's board of trustees Tamara Kazantseva was decorated with an order of Catherine the Great and charity director Natalya Korchaghina got a Roentgen silver medal, early last September.

Russia - Chechnya

Chechen traditions

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
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Chechen tarditions

The book "Vainakh Ethics" by Edi Isaev is an utmost important work at a time when the life in Chechnya is returning to normal. Edi Isaev is a historian, Professor at the Chechen State University, writer and publicist directs his book to youth. In introduction he emphasizes: "The norm of Vainakh ethics is the code of wise truths of people that reflects their ideals." The book is educational. It contains the ideas on ethics by thinkers of various people and various times from Epicurus and Confucius A.S. Makarenko and L.N.Toltoi. The second chapter is devoted to ethic norms of Chechens. The third chapter considers in detail traditional family ethic code. The final chapter is devoted to Islamic ethic norms. Materials from the book Vainakh Ethics by Edi Isaev is devoted to customs and traditions of Chechens.
(more about chechen traditions...)

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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