Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Over 3,700 Chechen refugees remain in tent camps in neighboring Ingushetia, the first deputy chief of the Federal Migration Service Igor Yunash told Itasr-Tass.. At present there are 48,700 internally displaced persons in Ingushetia. Most of them rent housing from private owners. Since the beginning of the year about 800 people have returned to Chechnya from Ingushetia. The worst factor hindering the return of Chechen refugees is the lack of housing. Deplorably those eager to return home exceed by far the accommodation facilities available. Another temporary accommodation center for 200 beds will open in Grozny in the near future. The payment of compensations for lost housing and property is one of the main incentives for refugees to return to Chechnya. At present 160 compensation requests from Ingushetia are being studied and another 600 are in the preparation phase. Compensations have been paid to 800 forced refugees in Ingushetia. The Federal Migration Service official has said people keep returning to Chechnya. In several days time the resolution will be signed to close the refugee camp in Karabulakh, where 680 men, women and children still remain. The camps existence is no longer feasible financially. About the likely date when the last tent camp in Ingushetia may be closed Yunash explained that the specific date has not been established yet, but if the repatriation rate remains, the tents may be closed by March 1.
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A subway-train car exploded at 8.45 a.m. in Moscow subway, with the authorities attributing this blast to a terrorist act. This was disclosed to RIA-NOVOSTI by Sergei Ignatchenko, chief of the Federal Security Service's public-relations department. President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation was promptly informed about the tragedy, reports the presidential press service. Passengers, who suffered as a result of the blast, are now being evacuated from Paveletskaya station. Officials at the local civil-defense and emergency-situations department noted that the blast had occurred, while the train was moving along the Zamoskvoretskaya line from Paveletskaya to Avtozavodskaya station. Dozens of ambulance teams are now working at the scene (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 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 164
06.02.04

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

06 February 2004  Lonely Residents find shelter in Groznys old peoples home
Groznys old peoples home was opened in 2003 with a few inmates but now has 72. The home is currently under repairs and will shortly welcome new inmates. Old residents are for now living 3 in a room but after the repairs it will be 2 people in a room. Inmates are fed 3 times a day with the Chechen labour ministry and the Red Cross Society supplying full complement of foodstuffs. There is a doctor in the home. Humanitarian organizations are helping with medicines and staff members are doing their best ,regularly washing and ironing bed clothes for inmates and blankets are dry cleaned and ironed also. Staffers in the home strive hard to bring some fun to the elderly in the old peoples home in Grozny Chechen leaders are frequent visitors to the home and on New Years Eve the Chechen labour and social welfare minister visited the home. The social policy section in the Grozny administration has a list of 10 people wishing to go and live in the old peoples home and the chief of the section, Nina Lorsayeva, says that more than a hundred people will find accommodation in the Groznys old peoples home after the repairs.
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05 February 2004  State Duma deputies express dissatisfaction with German parlaments reception of Zakayev
Deputies of the State Duma (Lower Chamber) condemned their German colleagues in connection with the German Parliament's reception of Chechen emissary Akhmed Zakayev. First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma committee on foreign affairs Yuly Kvitsinsky met on Wednesday with FRG Foreign Ministry coordinator on public affairs with Russia, Vice-Chairman of Bundestag SPD faction, Gernot Erler. In the course of the meeting with the German guest Kvitsinsky expressed his dissatisfaction with the German Parliament's reception given to Zakayev, he told journalists. "We consider him a criminal," Kvitsinsky stressed. "If they want to speak with Zakayev about Chechnya, then all the rest questions should be dealt with him as well. However, if the German part wants to speak about Chechnya with Russia, they will have to forget about Zakayev," Kvitsinsky said. According to Kvitsinsky, Gernot Erler assured him that Zakayev's visit was of no particular importance for Germany and "the German society didn't turn its attention to his visit." "Zakayev's visit was held upon the private invitation of the two Bundestag deputies," Gernot Erler disclosed to a RIA Novosti correspondent. At the same time, he mentioned that German deputies have a right to make private invitations. "In the course of the meeting with my Russian colleague I told him that no official meetings were held and no official statements were made during Zakayev's visit," Gernot Erler said. Following the short dramatization of the Zakayev's visit to Germany by the Russian part, the dialogue between our countries has regained its positive level, Gernot Erler underlined.
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05 February 2004  Ingush president, RF minister for Chechnya discuss refugee return
Ingush President Murat Zyazikov and Russian Minister for Chechen Affairs Stanislav Ilyasov met in Magas to discuss the return of refugees from Ingushetia to Chechnya. The minister for Chechen affairs stressed the positive dynamics of this process noting that people are returning voluntarily, the Ingush presidential press service told Itar-Tass. Ilyasov thanked the Ingush people for hospitality and aid provided to refugees noting that their accommodation was a big burden for the republic. He noted that under a Russian governmental ordinance the housing in Ingushetia will be built for many Chechen citizens of the Ingush stock who decided not to return to Chechnya. About 50,000 refugees from Chechnya are accommodated in Ingushetia at present and 4,500 of them live in tent camps, Zyazikov said at the meeting. The rest of them live in the private sector. 19,000 refugees mainly Ingushs decided not to return to Chechnya.

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.
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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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