Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Adbul Khakim Sultygovs resignation from the post of special presidential human rights commissioner in the Chechen Republic will not entail any alterations in the work of the Human Rights Commission under the Russian President, Commission Chairman Ella Pamfilova told Itar-Tass. His resignation will not affect the Commissions work in any way whatsoever, Pamfilova stressed, commenting on the presidential decree, which transfers the tasks of guaranteeing human rights in Chechnya to the republics government and to the Commission on Human Right under the Russian President. We shall simply go on with this work, knowing that our prerogatives are now more authorized, she added. According to Pamfilova, the Commissions priority tasks have already been determined. The key problems, which the Commission is planning to tackle, include the situation with the repatriation of Chechen refugees and liquidation of tent settlements. It is our duty to check the republics readiness to accommodate those people, Pamfilova noted. In addition to the information coming in from the Chechen government, the Commission will also rely in its work on its officials, who are paying regular visits to Chechnya and on information it gets from the public organizations, whose leaders are members of the Commission, Pamfilova noted. She also stressed that the Commission would, as always, relay in its work on the understanding and backing of the Russian president, who is in constant contact with it.
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Two senior UN officials are to make separate visits to Chechen republic within the space of two months, the president of the neighbouring republic of Ingushetia said, as quoted by Russian news agencies. UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egelund will visit both republics at the end of this month, while the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, will follow in March, President Murat Zyazikov said. Egelund's main purpose will be to coordinate relief work between the authorities of the two republics and federal authorities, Zyazikov said. Apart from meeting government officials in both republics, Egelund plans to visit Chechen refugee camps in Ingushetia and also meet Chechens who have returned to their homeland from Ingushetia, ITAR-TASS quoted Zyazikov as saying. (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

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.
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Issue 160
23.01.04

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

23 January 2004  Chechnya strengthens direct ties with the Russian regions
The Chechen governments representatives in Russian regions at their meeting in Grozny have analysed the work done in the out going year and discussed how to improve effectiveness of their work. The meeting was chaired by the republican minister for national policy, information and foreign ties Taus Dzhabrailov and was held at the ministry. Chechen envoys work successfully in 38 Russian regions. The Chechen government has already signed agreements on cooperation with St. Petersburg and Rostov region. It is preparing to sign similar agreements with the Yaroslaval and Bashkiria regions. The meeting decided to make more careful approaches in appointing the heads of missions in Russian regions since they have the full authority to represent the republic. The work of the missions is guided by the strategy determined by President Akhmad Kadyrov. The strategy is aimed to guarantee a spiritual revival of the nation and the reconstruction of inter-ethnic links on this basis and strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation. According to the deputy minister for national policy, information and foreign links, Vasili Svetlichny, now the republic is making attempts to restore disrupted economic likes and mutually beneficial cooperation rather than getting humanitarian aid.
(more News from Chechnya...)

23 January 2004  Chechen oil output to reach 2 billion tons in 2004
Oil output in the Republic of Chechnya is expected to amount to two billion metric tons in 2004, which will be 200,000 tons more than in 2003 and 500,000 tons more than in 2002, a source at the Rosneft state-run concern told Itar-Tass. Chechnyas Grozneftegas Company, a subsidiary of Rosneft, also plans to produce 510 billion cubic meters of natural gas. To implement the projects, it is necessary to make operational 17 new wells, complete the construction of the Goit-Kort oil loading rack and revamp the Severnye Braguny and Starogroznenskoye oil fields, the source said. Grozneftegas has restored 260 power-generating facilities and related installations over the past three years, including five oil storage facilities, two oil loading racks, 350 kilometers of pipelines and 230 kilometers of power-transmission lines, the source said. Earlier, Grozneftegas Director-General Baudi Khamidov said in an interview with Itar-Tass that Chechnya needs ten million U.S. dollars to revive its oil-refining industry. Rosneft officials said oil plundering remained one of the serious problems in the republic. According to the current data, malefactors stole around 20,000 tons of fuel in 2003. As a result of illicit tapping of the local pipelines, ten oil gushers opened and seven of them caught fire. All efforts have failed so far to arrest the flames at one of the oil gushers.
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23 January 2004  Chechen government to pay compensations for voluntarily surrendered weapons
The Chechen government instructed the republics Finance Ministry to add 42 million roubles more to the 2004 expense budget of the Interior Ministry to pay compensations for the voluntarily surrendered weapons, ammunition and explosives, which some Chechens still illegally possess. In keeping with a decision of the governments y meeting, the Chechen Interior Ministry is to issue an instruction on the procedures of accepting the voluntarily surrendered weapons, their evaluation, and payment of compensations. The decision will make it incumbent on the Chechen Ministry of Mass Media to launch explanatory work through the local media on the procedures of voluntarily surrendering the still illegally held weapons, on the exemption of their owners from penalty, and on their financial remuneration in keeping with the legislation in force. For instance, 5,000 roubles will be paid for each handed in pistol, 6,000 roubles for each submachine-gun, 8,000 roubles for each mine launcher, 10,000 roubles for each sub-barrel grenade launcher, 3,000 roubles for each smooth-bore hunting gun or explosive device, and 2,000 roubles for each artillery shell. Depending on calibre, cartridges for small arms are valued at 30-70 kopecks each. People are voluntarily handing in weapons practically every day. Itar-Tass was told at the Regional Counter-Terrorism Operations Headquarters on Thursday that 26-year-old Anzor Duguyev came to the police on Wednesday to declare his voluntary withdrawal from a bandit gang. He handed in a RPG-26 grenade launcher, two rounds of ammunition for an anti-tank grenade launcher, and several hand grenades.

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.
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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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