Actual News from Chechnya

News update

No large illegal armed groups under single command have been left in Chechnya, Colonel General Valery Baranov, Commander of the Joint Army Group in the Northern Caucasus, has said in an interview with the Voenno-Promyshlenny Kurier (Military-Industrial Courier) weekly, which was published on Wednesday. According to Baranov, the militants changed their tactics radically. They are operating in small groups, which tend to be dispersed, and are avoiding open armed clashes, he said. Baranov set forth his understanding of the recent incident, when a gang of Chechen gunmen penetrated to Dagestan and was destroyed there. It was Ruslan Gelayevs illegal armed unit, made up of 37 men. It was going from the Shatoi district of Chechnya to Georgia, Baranov continued. In his opinion, the gang planned to go to Georgia for the purpose of creating special conditions on its territory during the elections. In other words, they planned to destabilise the situation there. General Baranov pointed to the fact that the gang under the command of Ruslan Gelayev, who is now in Georgia, included foreign mercenaries. This is confirmed by the evidence given by the captured gunmen. A gang was destroyed recently near the village of Serzhen-Yurt, which included mercenaries even from Western Europe. A ramified network of recruiters is functioning in the world. They recruit only real professionals, as a rule, former servicemen, Baranov said. Commenting on the prospects of capturing Maskhadov and Basayev, Baranov said it was just a matter of time. I hope soon they will be captured. Now Chechnya is no place for Basayev and Maskhadov. This is why either they surrender voluntarily, or they will be destroyed, he said.
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Officers of the temporary operational group of the Russian Interior Ministry and criminal police of the Kurchaloyevsky district have thwarted attempts to prepare and stage new acts of terror in Chechnya, Itar-Tass reports. Police uncovered a cache containing 12 jet-propelled projectiles, six mines, more than 16 kilogrammes of TNT, three kilogrammes of plastic explosive, 19 grenades, electric fuses and rechargeable batteries on the outskirts of the Geldygen village, the Interim press centre of the Russian Interior Ministry in the North Caucasian region told Itar-Tass on Wednesday. As a result of operational-search action on the same day police found two Shmel flame-throwers and 16 rounds to grenade launcher cached by the roadside. According to law enforcers, this cache of arms belonged to the clandestine gunmen group of Abubakar Bashuyev who was killed in an armed clash with federal troops in 2002. (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 158
15.01.04

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

15 January 2004  Chechnya reconstruction: progress and plans
The year 2003 was marked in Chechnya by significant progress in economic reconstruction as well as by the March constitutional referendum, the October elections for regional President and the December elections to send deputies to the federal Lower House. According to Director of Finances and Economy at the presidential office for Southern Russia Dr Yuri Palastrov, Chechnya reconstruction programmes gobbled up a total of 21 billion roubles in 2003. The republic's own spending amounted to 10 billion roubles, including all 1.2 billion that Chechnya coffered after raising revenue and paying federal taxes. Federally-funded programmes produced nearly 240 thousand square metres of new or repaired housing space, 8 new or repaired schools for 2,930 students and 25 new or repaired health clinics. All pensioners, people on benefits and public employees were finally restored to full and regular pay. Chechnya was self-sufficient in grain, meat, dairy and poultry products. The harvest of sunflower seed increased 2 and a half times, and the harvest of maize, 5 times against the respective figures in 2002. The proceeds from oil reached 230 million dollars. The tax collection approached 4 billion roubles. Dr Palastrov describes all this as evidence of recovery picking up. Regions outside Chechnya, including neighbours in the Southern Federal District, built or rebuilt 17 schools in the republic, two district general hospitals and one social services centre. In 2004, 22 billion roubles are expected to be spent on reconstruction in Chechnya. Federal programmes should build or repair 700 thousand square metres of housing space, resurrect 470 factories, plants, infrastructure installations, schools, hospitals and kindergartens and create 20 thousand jobs. One hundred and 50 thousand unemployed people are entitled to free consultation. One thousand of them will be offered coaching for new skills. Thirty thousand will be welcome to take up community jobs. The administration will continue to accommodate returning refugees and pay out compensations for property that was lost in the separatist wars. Yuri Palastrov tells us he expects important breakthroughs in the reconstruction process this year.
(more News from Chechnya...)

15 January 2004  First groups of Russian pilgrims began hajj
The first groups of Russian pilgrims making a hajj have left for Saudi Arabia. The North Caucasian frontier directorate of the Federal Security Service told RIA Novosti that 20 organized groups of pilgrims totaling 700 people crossed the Azeri-Russian border on their way to Muslim holy places. The checkpoints began to count people who formalized their documents for travelling to Saudi Arabia. Last year, according to frontier service's data, 3,700 pilgrims traveled to Saudi Arabia from the North Caucasian regions. The law enforcement bodies are taking measures to prevent Chechen warlords and wounded militants from leaving Russia under the guise of pilgrims, the frontier service reported.
(more News from Chechnya...)

14 January 2004  Chechnen terrorist was blown up when planting explosive device
A member of illegal armed units in Chechnya was blown up when planting an explosive device. As the republican Interior Ministry reported, the incident took place on Tuesday in the Staropromyslovsky district of Grozny "The militant tried to place a homemade explosive device at the roadside but it blew up, and the militant was killed," said a spokesman for the Interior Ministry. The man has been already identified. He was a local inhabitant who worked as a watchman at one of the district Interior Departments. RIA Novosti reports.

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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