Actual News from Chechnya

News update

The head of the Chechen president's security service, Ramzan Kadyrov believes that in two-three years there will be no terrorists in Chechnya. He said this to journalists, expressing confidence that for the majority of those "irreconcilable" "the last summer and winter are coming." In Kadyrov's words, despite the fact that restoration of Chechnya's economy will take several years, and that the rehabilitation of Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, will take about 10-12 years, tourists will be able to come here earlier "to enjoy the republic's beauty." Answering the question about the leaders of gang formations, Ramzan Kadyrov said that former president Aslan Maskhadov does not pose any danger to the domestic policy situation in Chechnya. "He does not worry us. My dream is to catch or kill Shamil Basayev (informal head of all Chechen separatists who fight with arms in hands against the federal forces)," Ramzan Kadyrov said.
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A large terrorist attack has been prevented in Ingushetia (a republic in the North Caucasus bordering on Chechnya), a source at the Ingushetian Interior Ministry told RIA Novosti. "An explosive device was found in the town of Karabulak, 25 meters away from the entrance to a base of a police special task force. The device was hidden in the grass and consisted of a cardboard box filled with a mixture of ammonium nitrate, aluminum powder, two electric detonators and destructive elements," the source said. According to the source, the explosive device, which had the equivalent power of three kilograms of TNT, was deactivated. (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

Grozny's waterworks are rebuit

Quality potable water is what life depends on. The World Health Organization says, however, that about 2 billion people experience shortages of potable water. The Chechens, of all people, do not go thirsty. And, what sounds even better, they draw clear and sweet water from their mountainous brooks. And yet, some Chechens have a reason to be displeased. People get next to no water from their hissing kitchen faucets in some neighborhoods of Grozny. Frequent repairs are to blame for the absence of water, and it is technically unfeasible to pump water to the upper stories of high-rise projects. Although they are in the habit of lodging complaints against the metropolitan waterworks, people admit that the delivery of potable water has improved. As many as 85 percent of the residents of Grozny, which used to bring all its water from far away, are provided with tap water whose quality is monitored by the Chechen center of the Federal Epidemiological Service. Water is tested twice a week, and the medical workers have lodged no major complaints against the water authority of Grozny. Three water supply stations - Starosunzhensky, Gitinsky, and Checrnorechensky - have, over the past three years, been put in operation in Grozny. The distribution system is being rebuilt (don't forget that the waterworks run for 2,023 kilometers, and the sewage system has 510 kilometers of fifty-year-old and, naturally, worn-out piping!) The mid-90's brought more trouble: as their seams were strained by the bomb blasts, the pipes started leaking. The sewage system presents fewer problems. Occasional obstructions are written off as easy-to-be-eliminated. There are 471 people on the staff of the metropolitan waterworks; there must be three times as many. Over the past few years, the water authority had barely enough money for run-of-the-mill repairs. But major repairs have been scheduled for this and next year. The allocations will come from the federal government. And, more good news for Grozny: all neighborhoods of the Chechen capital will be provided with tap water as soon as the Samashkinsky water supply station is put in operation, sometime this fall.
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Issue 184
23.04.04

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

23 April 2004  A musical competition for children ends in Chechnya
A three-round competition for pupils ages between 8 and 14 of musical and arts schools continued in Chechnya for two months. The first round was held at the schools themselves and the second one in Argun, Achkhoi-Martan, Urus-Martan, Shelkov, Shali and Nozhai-Yurt districts and the cities of Grozny, Argun and Gudermes. The final was held at the new theatre-concert hall in Grozny. From 30 to 40 pupils - singers, dancers, musicians and choruses - represented each district. Though the pupils have no good conditions for their studies they demonstrated talents excellently. The jury included the head of the department of arts and educational establishments of the Chechen ministry of culture Adlam Mazhidov, director of the peoples creative centre Ramzan Daudov and a sitar player a singer of the Expansia group Vakha Isaev. It decided to award 11 first places for various nominations, 12 second places and 11 third places. The winners of the competition are expected to stage a concert at the Theatre-Concert hall in the Chechen capital. They will be awarded prizes and certificates. Summing up the results of the competition the chief expert at the department of arts and educational establishments Usman Istamulov said that all 29 arts and musical schools took part in the competition. He said that 4 500 children attend these schools where the staff is 240 teachers, Any child who passed an interview and musical test can join any of these schools. In addition, he said that an exhibition of young painters would be held late April in the garden of the Nuradilov Drama Theatre in Grozny.
(more News from Chechnya...)

23 Mart 2004  Most militants unaware of positive changes in Chechnya - Magomed Khambiyev
A large part of militants who continue fighting against federal forces are unaware of real positive changes taking place in Chechnya, Magomed Khambiyev, the ex-defence minister of self-proclaimed Ichkeria, told Tass. We must talk openly about what happens in the republic. I could grasp very little of what was happening here while I was hiding in forests. They are in the same situation now. Our task is to convince them, and I think they will give up confrontation. Together with the authorities we will put things at home in order, Khambiyev said. He said once again that the decision to stop the armed struggle was his personal decision, taken of free will. It is rumoured now that I made this decision under pressure. This is just not true. I repeat again that any activity without the support of people and friends is pointless. I have come to realise that I will be of more use to my motherland here. I become ever more confident with every day that my decision was right, Khambiyev said.
(more News from Chechnya...)

22 April 2004  V.Yakovlev down on Chechen bosses
The Chechen republican government held session on April 21 to analyse implementing a federal target programme of Chechnya's economic and social rehabilitation. Vladimir Yakovlev, presidential envoy plenipotentiary to federal district South, attended the event. The republic is making only token progress, said President Vladimir Putin's envoy as he came down on the republican top. "Team irresponsibility is all we have now instead of proper personal responsibility." Unemployment is raging-360,000, or 58 percent of the republic's ablebodied population, are out of job. The federal top is to know just when republican rulers expect to settle the problem. There must be publicity in a ticklish matter-what federal allocations are spent on, he added. Republican Prime Minister Sergei Abramov and Hussein Isayev, republican State Council president, hit back by criticising the federal programme. They don't think it takes stock of Chechnya's actual problems. Thus, not a single manufacturing company has risen from the ruins to this day. The republican top prosecutor must delve into every instance, Mr. Yakovlev said to that. No one will leave Chechens alone to tackle their problems, he reassured. Vladimir Yakovlev appointed his nearest conference on the republican top for May.

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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