Actual News from Chechnya

News update

In late April, Moscow will host the International Antiterrorism Media Forum. The forum will focus on the formation of a global information network to combat terrorism and drugs, Alexander Orlov, the information advisor of the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (ODKB), told journalists. "We should discuss the world we live in, its development problems and the possibilities for the media to make it a better place," Mr. Orlov said. Journalists from Russia, CIS and ODKB members-states, other countries, representatives of the legislative and executive branches of governments, ODKB law enforcement bodies and other international security organizations will participate in the media forum. (The Collective Security Treaty Organization includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia.)
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Members of armed gangs continue to surrender in Chechnya. Another two gunmen laid down their firearms with mediation from a representative of the Moslem clergy, Tass learnt at the regional headquarters on the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. Earlier, an imam of a mosque in a village, situated in the Vedeno district, came to law enforcement bodies with a report that two members of an armed gang intend to surrender, the headquarters noted. When they received guarantees of their personal security, the two gunmen came to a police precinct and surrendered. They brought two Kalashnikovs, a hand grenade launcher and two radio stations. The headquarters stated that it turned out during their interrogation that the refusal to continue illegal activities by the so-called Defence Minister of the so-called Ichkeria republic Magomed Khambiev (who surrendered earlier) prompted their decision to surrender. Former gunmen now testify concerning places of deployment of their gang and accomplices of bandits from among local citizens. Their names were not divulged in the interests of investigation, the headquarters stressed. At least 30 gunmen surrendered over the past month. (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 176
19.03.04

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

19 Mart 2004  Ex-Chechen MPs meet with students
Former Chechen lawmakers elected in 1997 have recently been meeting with students studying at the Millionshchikov Oil Institute. The ex-MPs wanted to know more about the young peoples attitude towards the socioeconomic situation that has been developing in the republic in the wake of the 1991 Soviet breakup and also about the Chechen governments handling of Chechnyas many problems. The students said that Maskhadovs rule had shut them out of normal life depriving them of education and work. They also welcomed the recent spate of rebel surrenders. The participants called for national accord and an end to the republics division into feuding clans, which they said, was impeding much-needed economic and social reconstruction of the Chechen Republic.
(more News from Chechnya...)

18 Mart 2004  Cache with weapons and ammunition found in Chechnya
A cache with weapons and ammunition was found in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. The press service of the main department of the Russian interior ministry for the southern federal district told RIA Novosti that the cache was found by officers in an almost destroyed building. Policemen withdrew three Kalashnikov sub-machine guns, 14 magazines, four rounds to an under-barrel grenade launcher, five hand grenades and 500 cartridges of various calibre. According to operative data, the cache belonged to a militant who was killed by the federal forces in January 2004, the press service specified.
(more News from Chechnya...)

18 Mart 2004  Presidential envoy Vladimir Yakovlev hopes Chechnya situation will not be aggravated
Vladimir Yakovlev, the Russian President's envoy to the Southern Federal District, like his predecessor on this post Viktor Kazantsev, opines that the talks in the Chechen Republic must be conducted only with those "who have not stained their hands with blood." The principle "blood for blood" is leading only to the aggravation of the situation. "This must not be allowed", Yakovlev said replying to the question of a RIA Novosti correspondent. He described the situation in Chechnya as "fragile", but said that it should be maintained by all possible means. Yakovlev said that his stance is to "alleviate the situation, to create the maximally favorable conditions for any processes to develop in a calm atmosphere, as confrontation gives nothing."

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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