Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Aslambek Aslakhanov, aide to the Russian president, for RIA Novosti What is happening in Chechnya after the death of Akhmad Kadyrov? I have just returned from the republic and can tell you that the situation there is relatively calm or, rather, consistently tense, just as before the May 9 terrorist attack. The explosion in the Grozny stadium shocked many. But there is no panic, partly because the people have grown accustomed to acts of terrorist and war and are too tired of it to react passionately any more. But there is one more explanation. In the past few months, the situation in Chechnya has been gradually improving: the number of roadblocks has been cut, curfew lifted, and the people have had fewer complaints about the federal troops. Even the number of crimes in Chechnya is about the same as the average for Russia, though more terrorist attacks have been committed there. Consequently, the general mood of the overwhelming majority of the people is that the positive changes and return to peaceful life must not be stopped. We do not want another war and further bloodshed. The world and Russian press write that the situation in Chechnya will revert to the bloody scenario after Kadyrov's death. I caution you against making such suppositions. The terrorists may try to exploit this situation. There may be more terrorist attacks carried out to create an atmosphere of general fear in the republic. But I firmly believe that this will not bring the desired effect. Chechens are tired of being afraid; it has become very difficult to scare them. Those who expect an internecine war to begin in Chechnya are wrong, too. As a Chechen, I am surprised to hear such forecasts. Our people have always rallied in times of trouble; this is the Chechen mentality and it has not changed with the years. As I see it, the politicians who want to restore peace in Chechnya should help the acting president, Sergei Abramov [he was head of the government under Kadyrov and hence took over after his death in compliance with the Chechen constitution], and Kadyrov's son Ramzan, who has been recently appointed vice-premier and enjoys great prestige in the Chechen security structures, to stabilise the situation. In point of fact, Ramzan Kadyrov governs Chechnya now. He was the closest ally of his father and head of his security service. Logically, he holds the levers of power in Chechnya. He is not 30 and hence cannot be nominated for the presidency, which is seriously complicating the situation around the forthcoming presidential elections in Chechnya. On the one hand, they should not be postponed. On the other hand, it is difficult to quickly find a respected man who would be able to rally Chechens. But this should not be regarded as an insurmountable obstacle. The main thing is that Chechnya wants peace today and this desire will prompt the right political decisions.
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A Qatari court held another meeting over the case against two Russian citizens accused of involvement in the murder of Chechnyas ex-president Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev. The court heard the testimony of a witness of defence, who is an employee of a car rental service. The next court sitting, at which another witness of defence will speak, has been set for May 17. Russias consul in Doha Maksim Maksimov attended the court meeting. He asked to be given the floor in the capacity of a witness, but the court denied it to him, saying that Maksimov was present at all previous sittings and was informed how they went. (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
(in detail ...)

Chechen economics

Entrepreneurial license can now be got in Chechnya

Chechens now have the chance of obtaining a license on 22 types of businesses and for that purpose a licensing chamber was created two years ago by a decision of the government. Each day all those businessmen who are currently creating jobs for the people receive a license to start their own business. In the main, licenses are being given to companies connected with trading and intermediary activities. They deal in ferrous and non-ferrous metals, medicines, foodstuffs, wines and spirits, and light industrial items. The largest number of licenses has been issued in Grozny and that is not surprising. After all the Chechen capital now boasts of the greatest number of businesses. In the first 4 months of this year 180 businessmen from different regions in the republic also obtained licenses All the papers of the future businessmen are carefully scrutinized by the licensing authorities after which they are registered on the spot. Licensing is refused only on the ground of a seri0us violation. For an example, before a private shop is registered it must be ascertained that it is equipped with a cash machine and the trading premise should not be less than 53 square meters. Windows must have iron bars, the shop must have an iron door as well as have an automatic signaling device. It is extremely hard in todays most difficult conditions in Chechnya for all the demands to be met. Therefore a little deviation from the norms cannot prevent an applicant from receiving the license sought. But a remark is made in the license about the need for rectification and the time limit for such. Usually a license is given for one year. The deputy chairman of the Chechen licensing chamber, Magomed Israilov believes that the more active Chechens do business the more new jobs will be created in the republic and that is the best recipe for a speedy rebirth of Chechnya.
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Issue 189
14.05.04

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

14 May 2004  Militant turn himself in Chechnya
Aslan Khatayev, a militant from Bitmurzayev's gang, turned himself in to law enforcement agencies in Chechnya's Kurchaloi district, RIA Novosti was told in the Regional Operational Staff for controlling the counter terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. "Khatayev was part of the gang of the so-called emir of the Mairtrup settlement, Bitmurzayev. He was a judge with the Shariat court of the Shali district, rendered assistance to field commander Imran who was part of the gang of Arab mercenary Khattab killed by the federal forces," said a Staff representative. In his words, for some time, Khatayev was used by Arabs as a guide and a courier to deliver weapons, ammunition and foodstuffs to the gang. Now Khatayev gives evidence about members of illegal armed formations, said the source.
(more News from Chechnya...)

14 May 2004  Presidential envoy on ways of solving Chechnyas problems
A May 9 terrorist attack in Grozny which killed the Chechen president, Akhmad Kadyrov, has posed a number of serious problems before the republic. Just back from the Chechen capital, Vladimir Yakovlev, the presidential envoy to the Southern Federal District, described to a correspondent of the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta his view of ways of resolving it. QUESTION: Do you not fear that the situation in the republic will be further destabilized after the terrorist attack? ANSWER: Indeed the situation in Chechnya is not simple today. Akhmad Kadyrov was sincerely committed to peace. He did not make overtures to the bandits, but did everything possible to free Chechnya of bandit formations. Kadyrov held back religious extremists and countered the formation of a so-called Wahhabi state. Speaking of the prospects of settlement of the conflict, however, they are enshrined in the constitution of Chechnya, which was adopted during Kadyrov's lifetime, too. We felt how tense the situation is in the two days we spent in Chechnya. I had meetings with the public, muftis, power structures and the government, and I have every reason to say that this misfortune rallied the people together. People saw change under Kadyrov and want the path of development taken by him to be continued. It is necessary to address more vigorously payment of compensations for lost housing, and problems of housing construction, engineering services, and demining. The need is to start restoring cultural facilities, including the theater, which has always been the pride of the republic. It is necessary to render all-round support to cabinet chairman Sergei Abramov, who is now doubling as president of the republic. QUESTION: Will the Kremlin's positions not weaken in Chechnya following the Dynamo stadium tragedy? ANSWER: The Kremlin's prestige is not at issue here. It is important to draw correct conclusions from what happened, to weigh up and understand what needs to be done to prevent anything similar taking place in future. Here the efforts of security-related structures will not be enough. As normal life is being revived, everything is essential - economics, education, and culture. These were the things we discussed during my trip to Chechnya. Problems are galore. The republic has a 56 per cent unemployment rate. Yet many people have stayed on, spending more than ten years in conditions of hostilities and counter-terrorist fighting. All these "sweeps" no doubt have had their effect on the mood of the population. Today, in order to reverse the situation, it is necessary to solve the problem of jobs. People should work in order to adequately support their families and grow children. Meanwhile, 27,000 babies were born in the republic last year. They should live under peaceful skies, see the bright sun, and have playgrounds, which, unfortunately, are still absent. So let us begin with these things, and forget about the center's prestige.
(more News from Chechnya...)

14 May 2004  Chechen authorities ask Putin to back son of slain leader for top post
Chechnya's authorities appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to support the son of Chechnya's assassinated president to replace his father at the helm of the war-torn republic despite his young age. "Today there was a meeting of Chechnya's state council, government, security council and the mufiyat," state council head Taus Dzhabrailov told AFP by telephone from Chechnya. "We unanimously adopted an appeal to the Russian president with the request ... to support the candidacy of Ramzan Kadyrov to the post of Chechnya's president," he said. Ramzan was appointed the first deputy head of Chechnya's government on May 10, following the funeral of his father, Akhmad Kadyrov, who was killed in a bomb blast in central Grozny over the weekend. The 27-year-old boxing enthusiast who headed his father's security service, is prohibited from running for president by the war-torn republic's constitution, which mandates that a president must be at least 30 years old. Ramzan will continue the work of his father," Dzhabrailov said. "We, Kadyrov's team, do not see a better candidate or a better personality to head our republic." Ramzan's appointment to the republic's second-top post - as well as his meeting with Putin hours after his father's death - seemed to indicate that the Kremlin would like to keep power in Chechnya with the Kadyrov clan, which allied itself with Moscow at the start of the second Russo-Chechen war in October 1999. But Ramzan lacks the authority enjoyed by his father - a mufti and former rebel who bitterly opposed radical Islamic Wahhabite influences in the Muslim republic. Many in Chechnya say he is too inexperienced and lacks the cunning to effectively juggle the interests of competing clans in the restless republic. New elections in Chechnya are due to take place by September 5.

Russia - Chechnya

Chechen culture

It was not until the late 19th century that the Chechens started using other than wooden, brass and earthen tableware. Village artisans had polished their skills to perfection in making household utensils. Glazed crockery featured geometric or floral designs. Bowls were usually big. And the shape of a bowl depended on what they would put into it. A pitcher with a narrow neck contained melted butter. A pitcher with a wide neck was meant for milk and sour milk. The neck of a water pitcher was so narrow that only a child's fist could fit in. Water pitchers had big handles and wide circle-shaped bottoms: they would be carried on the shoulder from the river that could flow far enough from home or in a canyon. A special kind of earthenware held grain. Demand was high for the well-made Chechen pottery.Wooden tableware was made with a lathe. The hardest sorts of timber - oak and maple - went for tableware. Some household utensils were also made of wood: barrels, wheel spikes and other parts of wheelcarts. Cradles were made of wood in such a way as to enable a Chechen mother to strap it to her back and carry it out to the field. Its accommodating design and loyalty to the national tradition explain why some Chechen women still put their babies in such cradles. Other things made of wood: trays, mugs, spoons, churns - have also survived till nowadays. 19th century brass washbowls, mugs, tubs and pots are still used by the Chechens. The Chechen home looks traditionally simple, if not ascetic. There was an absolute minimum of furniture: portable wooden beds and small tables. But household utensils that do credit to the village artisans adorned the rooms. There were things made of wood and brass, crockery and, in addition to all that, things made of wool and felt. Felt was indispensable. Chechens used it for mattresses, blankets and wall rugs and as insulation lining. Multicolor Chechen rugs are usually decorated with red and blue fringework.
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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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