Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Another militants' base has been destroyed in Chechnya, says the release of the regional operational headquarters for the anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. According to the headquarters' data, the law-enforcement bodies found the militant's base during their operational and search activities in the village of Agishty in the Shali district. In the estimate of experts, the base was intended to accommodate and provide supplies to a group of militants numbering about 20 people. Apart from that, according to the headquarters' report, during their selective checks in the Gudermes district the other day, the law-enforcement bodies detained one of the so-called emirs, a certain Sultan Atayev, a member of a bandit formation. He pointed to a hideout with weapons belonging to the militants' group led by him. "The hideout, located in the mosque of the village of Oiskhara in the Gudermes district, contained a machine-gun, a sub-machine gun, grenade launchers and ammunition," the headquarters' release says. The law-enforcement bodies arrested two more militants in the Sunzha district. It was established that 22-year-old Bekkhan Sovkhalov and 23-year old Sultan Amagov were members of the bandit formation led by emir Burkayev. "The law-enforcement bodies have already proved the involvement of the detained persons in the illegal arms sale. Work is underway to check the involvement of Sovkhalov and Amagov in other earlier committed crimes," the report says.
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US secret services used electronic bugging systems and satellite photos this past December to help Russia locate a Chechen terrorist gang, whose members were wanted for murders and kidnappings. The gang tried to escape abroad via Dagestani mountain ranges in southern Russia. (Dagestan is a North Caucasian republic, which borders on Chechnya - Ed.) This was disclosed February 2 by US News And World Report. According to this magazine, 37 bandits were killed by Russian commandos, artillery fire and air strikes, RIA Novosti reports. The magazine mentions this operation as an example of joint US-Russian anti-terrorist operations; as a rule, such operations are veiled in secrecy. (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
(in detail ...)

Chechen economics

Chechnya revives its small businesses

The growing business activity is a sign that shows the situation in Chechnya is stabilizing. In 2000 there were 300 companies that were engaged in small businesses. Next year the number exceeded 2000 and last year 3180 small enterprises and more than 10 000 businessmen were registered at the state statistical committee of Chechnya. Their role in the republic's economy has grown in the past years. Farmers produce 35% grain and 80% meat. Small enterprises perform 90% of services and 70% of construction and restoration works. Private companies provide two thirds of passenger and cargo transport. New laws introduced in Russia to promote small businesses also stimulate activity in this area. The registration of enterprises in Chechnya is being carried out at a taxation office as else where in the country. The businessmen get certificate of registration six days after they submitted their documents and permissions to open a bank account. A simplified procedure of taxation has been introduced for small business. A Chechen government committee set up in June 2000 to promote small business and business undertakings realizes the state policy in this area. Republican business center is functioning in Grozny under the aegis of the committee. It helps first and foremost unemployed and trains them how to carry out business undertakings. Last year 780 people completed management and accountancy courses. The government plans to open business centers in rural areas. To train teachers for district business centers, Russia's small business promoting fund has given 300 000 rubles. The republican business center plans to move into a new 260-square meter building in the city center early next month from a rented office. It hopes to help young people who desire to start their own business. Business skills have been highly valued in Chechnya. This is of utmost important since the republic has chosen the creative development path.
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Issue 163
03.02.04

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

03 February 2004  An Internet Centre opened up in Grozny
A new Internet Centre has opened up in central Grozny. The Centre is located in three rooms, where visitors are welcome to make use of nine computers. One gets connected to the Internet in a matter of seconds since the Centre uses a satellite. Most visitors to the Internet Centre are college and university students. At the Centre they get what information they may need for their classes and send e-mail messages. Before they had to go to other Russian regions to do that. The number of those wishing to browse through the worldwide web grows by the day. Nine PCs are clearly insufficient, but more will be mounted at the Centre in the near future.
(more News from Chechnya...)

02 February 2004  Chechnya receives first set of stoplights
Chechnya put its first set of stoplights into use on Saturday after the two Chechen wars destroyed all the country's traffic lights, the Chechen Interior Ministry said. The lights are located in the center of the Chechen capital Grozny. "It's a sign that live is becoming normal," ministry spokesman Ruslan Atsayev told Interfax. Stoplights will be put up in other Chechen towns in the near future as well, he said.
(more News from Chechnya...)

02 February 2004  Reward offered for information on murderers of Chechen security officers
Head of the Chechen presidential security service Ramzan Kadyrov said that all those involved in the attack against Chechen security officers will be caught within seven days. "The attack was carried out by rebels from the so-called Ichkerian armed forces. I have offered a reward of $200,000 for information on the rebels' whereabouts," Ramzan Kadyrov told Interfax. The assailants opened fire at the house of Sultan Dadayev, commander of the Alleroi group of the Chechen presidential security service. Dadayev and his four bodyguards were killed. One of the assailants was killed and four others wounded, Kadyrov said. "Akhmed Avturkhanov, the leader of the group of assailants and commander of the Kurchaloi group of the Ichkerian armed forces, was also wounded," Kadyrov said. A large-scale sweep operation involving officers from the presidential security service was carried out in Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov's native village of Alleroi earlier this week. Head of the presidential security service Ramzan Kadyrov said then that information had been received that the head of Aslan Maskhadov's personal guard and a group of rebels were hiding out in the village. He added that the operation was also carried out to find weapons, ammunition and home-made explosive devices.

Russia - Chechnya

The pre-islamic customs, manifest in farming festivals

The traditional way to celebrate New Year's eve goes way back. The kindling of a new flame was a matter of utmost importance. A new flame was to be burning in the fireplace when New Year's meal was cooked. A long log was put in the fire. Its length determined how long the family would be celebrating. As soon as the log allowed the door to close, a New Year's party, with many good things to eat and drink, with dancing and jesting, could begin. Sooner or later, all logs got shorter, so that every family would sooner or later start celebrating . New Year's logs were prepared in advance: a standing tree, most often an oak, was put to dry. It was a great sin to use fruit trees for this purpose. The ancestors of today's Chechens believed that the forces of evil stepped up action on New Year's eve. They would, for protection, scatter things made of steel in the cattle-sheds and their living quarters. A plentiful meal offered guarantees for the family's wellbeing in the year to come. All creatures, including mice, were to have their bellies full on New Year's eve. Wheat breads were baked. The head, ritual bread was shaped as a circle, with lines radiating from its center. Breads with all kinds of filling in them were baked in addition to the magic one. The eldest member of the family got a square-shaped one while the guests were treated to round breads. Coins, grains of wheat or a spool of yarn might be hidden, for fortune-telling purposes, inside fancy breads. Other fortune-telling methods were applied on New Year's eve. A man was, for example, chosen to spend the night in the sanctuary. He would lie face down and keep his ear pressed to the dirt floor and would, in the morning, try to interpret what he had heard. The same kind of fortune-telling is known in Russia. A Russian village-dweller would go to a crossroads, mark a circle and press his ear to the ground. If he heard a loaded sleigh swish heavily by, next year's harvest would be good. If the sleigh seemed to be empty, the harvest would be poor. Chechens knew a very special method of fortune-telling. They would hold to light a ram's shoulder blade. Spots on the shoulder blade predicted whether next year's harvest would be good, what kind of weather they were to expect and even family developments. A similar method of fortune-telling is known in China. Young girls took advantage of New Year's eve in an effort to find out something about their future husbands. A Chechen girl would bake three very salty little breads. She would put two of them under her pillow and eat the third. The person who gave her, in a dream, a drink of water, was to become her husband. Young people or teenagers would put on their sheepskin coats the wrong side up, and either wear felt hoods decorated with horns or paint their faces black with chimney soot. Such dress parades, as well as the custom of singing carols and begging for penny gifts, are, incidentally, known, till this day, in many countries of Europe and America. But horse races on the third day of a new year are held in Chechnya only. The three winners should be given a horse, a saddle, a bridle, a whip or a piece of clothing. Nowadays, New Year's eve has nothing to do with farming. Neither does it with Islam. People simply get together on New Year's eve to say good-bye to the outgoing year and to welcome in a new and, hopefully, much better year.
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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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