Actual News from Chechnya

News update

It would be useful for deputies of the European parliament to have a look at the blasted coach of the Moscow Metro. This would help them to assess correctly the situation in Chechnya, speaker of the Federation Council upper chamber Sergei Mironov said at a press conference in St. Petersburg at the Itar-Tass regional office. In the speakers opinion, recommendations of the European parliament to Russia on expediency of talks with Aslan Maskhadov, which sounded on the eve of the Moscow terrorist act, looked out of place and provocative. Mironov emphasized that stabilization in Russia, and especially in the Chechen Republic, is unprofitable for somebody, but it is really going on. The speaker called brutes those who ordered the terrorist act in the Moscow underground. He said that it is impossible to abet at terrorism in any manifestations and forms.
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Over 700 militants were eliminated and 2,000 people suspected of terrorism were detained during special operations in Chechnya in 2003, Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Vyacheslav Ushakov said at a seminar for the newly elected State Duma deputies, RIA Novosti reports. Over 80 sabotage and terrorist attacks on servicemen and facilities of federal forces were prevented in Chechnya, Ushakov said. In his words, 74 people involved in explosions were arrested and 18 of them were convicted. Up to 3,500 units of firearms and over 4 tons of explosives were seized on Chechen territory. Last year more than 900,000 attempts of illegal entry into state information resources were stopped, said the Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Security Service. According to him, 112 criminal cases were initiated in the sphere of computer safety and 25 people were convicted. (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 165
10.02.04

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

10 February 2004  Local physicians in Benoi-Yurt
The rural hospital in the village of Benoi-Yurt of the Hadterechny district has 25 beds, ten in the pediatric and 15 in the general wards. Since the rural clinic is functioning at the hospital patients visiting clinic can be admitted to the hospital immediately in case if there is a need. Hospital has an ambulance service too. A group of doctors is always ready to response to calls. The patients in the hospital get food three times a day. And patients are satisfied with its quality. Medical service is also quite good. The fund of essential medical insurance maintains the hospital. The patients are treated free-of-charge. The chief physician of the hospital Aishat Tazbieva says that people suffering from respiratory, digestion, infectious and nervous diseases mainly come to the hospital. Hospital has everything needed to treat these people. If the illness is serious then patient is taken to the central district hospital. Aishat Tazbieva is worried that the hospital has no maternity ward owing to lack of space. Pregnant women are being sent to the district hospital. The local hospital controls only the condition of pregnant women. Aishat Tazbieva says that the doctors at the hospital are also engaged in forming health way of life in each family and the society as a whole. This is the reason why doctors give sanitary education to people and focus on childrens health. Villagers express gratitude to the local physicians.
(more News from Chechnya...)

09 February 2004  Investigators probe into three versions of subway bomb blast
Three days after the Moscow subway train bomb blast the investigators from the federal security service FSB, the Interior Ministry and the Prosecutor Generals Office keeping probing into three versions of the tragedy. A terrorist attack by a suicide bomber is the main one, a representative of the investigation team has told Itar-Tass. There is also a possibility an explosive device had been planted in the subway train car beforehand. An unintentional detonation of an explosive substance is the third, least probable version, but it has not been brushed aside completely yet. An individual may have carried an explosive device without an intention of committing a bomb attack at this particular place and moment. Bomb disposal specialists are yet to determine the type of the explosive device, its yield and size, who could plant it and how. FSB specialists have continued examining the exploded train car for the past two days round the clock gathering all tiniest pieces of evidence that might provide clues as to the type of the bomb and explosives used and the mode of their transportation crucial to identifying the attackers.
(more News from Chechnya...)

09 February 2004  Sergei Ivanov: majority of foreign mercenaries killed in Chechnya were Turkish nationals
The majority of foreign mercenaries killed in Chechnya were Turkish nationals, the fact that "will hamper the development of Russian-Turkish relations," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said in Munich on Friday. Mr Ivanov has arrived in Munich for an international conference on security and defence issues. Terrorist groups dealing in Chechnya involve nationals of many countries. However, Turkish residents have made a lion's share of mercenaries lately, the minister told reporters. Mr Ivanov then reported on a Turkish mercenary who was killed in Chechnya the other day. He was carrying arms and a video tape on which he addresses militants in Turkish. Moscow has got accustomed to see Georgian visas in the passports of international terrorists who infiltrate Chechnya, said Mr Ivanov. Russia wants its relations with NATO members and other countries to develop with due heed to mutual interests, emphasized the minister. He spoke out against "double standards" and urged that cooperation should develop not barely in word but in deed.

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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