Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Chechen leader Akhmat Kadyrov said that his republic welcomed a landslide election win of President Vladimir Putin. Putins re-election for the second term means for me a guarantee of Russias unity, the formation of a powerful economy and a steady growth of Russias influence in the world, Kadyrov told Tass by telephone. According to the Chechen leader, the election of Putin is a significant, an historic event, and not only for the Russian people. Right now, only Putin can steer Russia towards becoming a great power, and he will do it, while Chechnya will become part of that powerful state, Kadyrov stressed. He said that all the necessary bodies of executive power had been created in Chechnya during Putins first term in office. The Chechen people have got their own Constitution, and a parliamentary election is due in the republic in autumn. People have started getting pensions and allowances on a regular basis, like in all Russian regions, Kadyrov emphasized. We have also got an opportunity to feel that we are part of a big country, and that people will revive after a decade of chaos and lawlessness under Dudayev and Maskhadov, the Chechen president added. He said a high voter turnout at the presidential election, over 90 percent, testified to the fact that people trust Putins policy. We are confident that the country has made today the right choice, he added. The Chechen people and personally I have supported, do support and will keep supporting Putins policy, Kadyrov emphasized.
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538,864 have come to the federal presidential polls in Chechnya-89.65 percent of its total registered franchised population, which is close to 600,000. The election came off smoothly, a republican election commission spokesman said to Novosti. No emergencies and outrages have been reported, added a republican Interior Ministry spokesman. (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

Small businesses get a boost

The Chechen government is giving much help to the local businesses, which it sees as crucial for achieving much-awaited political and economic stabilization in the republic. Last year the number of small businesses soared to more than 3,000 compared to just a handful only three years earlier and there are more than 10,000 business people without a legal person status now at work in Chechnya channeling an estimated 500 million rubles in tax money to the state coffers. The small businesses are helping the state and the state is fully returning the courtesy opening, among other things, a republican business center to train business managers and entrepreneurs. The center that opened doors in Grozny earlier this year is headquartered in an all-new office building. Similar centers will soon be opened in Gudermes and also in the Skelkovskoy and Shali districts, all paid for by the republican government. This year the Chechen budget will, for the first time, earmark easy loans for the local small businesses. To apply for such a loan, one is supposed to submit a detailed business plan to a relevant government committee. More than 700 such business plans have already been put forward. The loans are not very big but they are still enough to get your business started. Small-business loans are also coming from the federal budget and this year the Antimonopoly Ministry will hand out 3 billion rubles in such easy loans to get private regional businesses going. Minister Ilya Yuzhanov (?) Chechen businessmen are first in line to get them. Chechnya also wants the local businesses to be insured by the federal governments small business support fund.
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Issue 175
15.03.04

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

15 Mart 2004  Ensemble Veinakh: Treasure and pride of Chechnya
The artistic Director of Veinakh Ensemble, Dikalu Muzakayev, continues to receive congratulatory messages on his being conferred with the honour of Peoples artist of Russia. He believes that the entire members of his collective deserve the honour and hopes that in the future other dancers will equally get that title saying however, that for that to happen, it will be necessary to groom and train young artists. A choreography school-studio has recently been created under the Veinakh ensemble in which 160 young boys and girls are being trained. Members of the ensemble are currently working on new programmes, rehearsing various Chechen dances expressing male nobility, strength and female tenderness. Shortly, Veinakh Ensemble will begin rehearsing some of the best dances of the peoples of North Caucasus and rehearsals will be in the new building given to the Ensemble on the personal instruction of Chechen president, Akhmad Kadyrov. For the first time in its existence Veinakh Ensemble, has a stage of its own and in the opinion of Mr. Muzakayev, that will have a positive impact on the work of his Ensemble, providing an opportunity to prepare well for the planned series of summer and autumn performing tours. The Ensemble will put on show their art in Spain, Italy and France and in July take part in events marking the 80th anniversary of the birth of the great Chechen dancer, Makhmud Esambayev, who in his time was the acclaimed soloist of Veinakh. A memorial evening devoted to him has been slated for the Kremlin Palace of Congress. In September, Veinakh Ensemble will celebrate its 65th founding anniversary and guests from all over North Caucasus and Moscow have been invited.
(more News from Chechnya...)

14 Mart 2004  Small businesses get a boost
The Chechen government is giving much help to the local businesses, which it sees as crucial for achieving much-awaited political and economic stabilization in the republic. Last year the number of small businesses soared to more than 3,000 compared to just a handful only three years earlier and there are more than 10,000 business people without a legal person status now at work in Chechnya channeling an estimated 500 million rubles in tax money to the state coffers. The small businesses are helping the state and the state is fully returning the courtesy opening, among other things, a republican business center to train business managers and entrepreneurs. The center that opened doors in Grozny earlier this year is headquartered in an all-new office building. Similar centers will soon be opened in Gudermes and also in the Skelkovskoy and Shali districts, all paid for by the republican government. This year the Chechen budget will, for the first time, earmark easy loans for the local small businesses. To apply for such a loan, one is supposed to submit a detailed business plan to a relevant government committee. More than 700 such business plans have already been put forward. The loans are not very big but they are still enough to get your business started. Small-business loans are also coming from the federal budget and this year the Antimonopoly Ministry will hand out 3 billion rubles in such easy loans to get private regional businesses going. Minister Ilya Yuzhanov (?) Chechen businessmen are first in line to get them. Chechnya also wants the local businesses to be insured by the federal governments small business support fund.
(more News from Chechnya...)

13 Mart 2004  Telephone lines being restored in Urus Martan
Telephone lines have been restored to Chechnyas Urus Martan district since last year and they have already installed a brand-new 1,258-line digital exchange to handle phones at many local enterprises and organizations, including at Gekhi, Shalzhi, Goity, Komsomolskoye and Martan Chu villages. Communication is disrupted by occasional power cutoffs in which case local diesel mini-power stations immediately switch on to keep the phone lines running. Meanwhile, repair work continues unabated at the local power stations at Urus Martan whose director, Kharon Taramov, says telephone service to private subscribers will be restored already in April and May of this year. It will take time for everyone to get a working phone line at home, but we are already working on this, he says. The district is busily preparing for the March 14 presidential elections and all local polling stations enjoy quality telephone service just like they did during the past three elections.

Russia - Chechnya

Chechen traditions

A legend says that the ancestor of all Chechens - Nokhchuo - was born with a piece of iron in one hand and a piece of cheese in the other. "Grace seldom rests on places unfrequented by guests," "a guest brings joy,""the longer the guest's way to your house, the more respect you owe him..." Many sayings, legends and fables focus on the sacred law of hospitality. The villagers are most hospitable. Every coutryside family has a special guest room that is always kept clean, with clean bed linen, in a word, ready for a visitor. No one makes use of this room. Even the children are forbidden to play or do anything else in this room. Every family must be ever ready to serve the guest a meal. Chechens used to set aside a special stock of food supplies for this purpose. No questions are to be asked of a guest in the first three days of his visit... He is considered a privileged member of the family. In the olden day, the daughter or daughter-in-law of the head of the family would even help him to take off his shoes and overcoat. The guest enjoys the warmest reception at meal times. A Chechen must risk his own life to protect the life, honor and property of his guest. This is one of the basic rules of Chechen hospitality. The Chechen code of conduct says guests should offer no payment to the family they stayed with. A guest may only make a present to the children of that family. The ancient rules of hospitality were obeyed regardless of circumstances. Any good man, regardless of his ethnic roots, merited a warm reception. There is a direct connection between hospitality and greetings. To greet someone, Chechens open up their arms, that is bare their heart for us to see that they neither hide mean intentions nor plan any evil.
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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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