Actual News from Chechnya

News update

More than 100 Chechen elderly people who are over 100 came to Chechen President Alu Alkhanov, Premier Sergei Abramov, Vice-Premier Ramzan Kadyrov for a meeting organized on the initiative of the Akhmat Kadyrov public foundation. The aim of the meeting was to emphasize the importance of generation succession in Chechnya, ancient traditions maintenance and observance of traditional Islam norms. Foundation vice-president Muslim Khuchiyev said that old people intended to perform the national religious dance Zikr during the meeting and hold a religious service in memory of victims killed by terrorists and pray for well-being of Chechnya, its people and all Russia. Old people as nobody else know ancient laws and real Islam norms and their values for Chechen people, Khuchiyev stressed. Old people's words and viewpoints are particularly timely and valuable at present, when wahhabites and extremists give their own Islam and Chechen customs interpretation advantageous for them and their foreign masters, he noted. Attitude to old people was respectful always in the Caucasus, and the norm of behavior is fixed in the new Constitution of Chechnya. So. It was not accidental that Chechen first president Akhmat Kadyrov understood and always listened attentively to old people's view, Khuchiyev said.
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The Moscow Court found guilty Zara Murtazaliyeva, a resident of Chechnya, of preparing terrorist acts, involving in acts of terrorism and illegal acquisition, possession and carrying of explosives. On March 4, 2004, Murtazaliyeva was arrested near a hotel in south-west of Moscow. On inspection of her bag, operatives found 200 grams of explosives. She has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment. (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

Russian savings bank is restoring its branches in Chechnya

TheNorth Caucasus branch of the Russian savings bank was opened in the middle of December in prospect Pobedy, house number 5 in Grosny, where all existing 40 banking operations can be carried out. Money can be received and sent to any part of Russia, payment for communal services and other financial operations can be effected. In addition to the Grozny branch another one has been operating for 3 years in the Naursk settlement, serving in the man, private individuals and enabling residents to keep money safe in the bank. It also pays compensation for depreciated savings and accepts payment for communal services. In an interview for the free Chechnya radio chairman of the North Caucasus subsidiary of the Russian savings bank Viktor Gavrilov has said that among the functions of the banks branches in Chechnya is paying both state and local compensations to Chechens, including for lost and damaged property and house arising from the fighting in Chechnya. They equally pay compensation to former account holders as well as pay out states pension and benefits. The recently signed agreement between the Chechen prime minister, Sergei Abramov and the chairman of the Russian savings bank, Andrei Kazymin on compensations payment envisages the orders of remittance and payment into special account of residents as well as payouts and accounting. The agreement lists out affiliates of the North Caucasus savings bank in which a special account can be opened. Apart from the branches in the Nausk village and Grozny 6 other branches are also to pay out money. They are located in the border regions of Chechnya: two are in the Dagestani branch in the town of Kizlyar, pereulok Rybni, house number 4-A and the town of Hasav-Yurt, Daibova street, house number 8. In Ingushetia; the town of Malgabek, Gardanova street number 27; in the village of Ordzhonikidzovskaya, Oskanova street number 34; the town of Nazran, prospect Bazorkin, 10; and in the town of Mozdok, Kirov street, house number 61. The Russian savings bank is to enlarge services to clients in Chechnya with the granting of loans to buy goods, building materials as well as give out mortgage credits. The participation of the savings bank in economic projects in Chechnya is under active consideration and an agreement is to be signed with republican leaders on the construction of apartment buildings. In 2005 the 3rd branch of the North Caucasus subsidiary of the Russian savings bank will be commissioned in Gudermes and the opening of other branches in several parts of Chechnya will follow.
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Issue 256
21.01.05

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

21 January 2005  United Nations realizes a social and economic development programme in the North Caucasus
The UN development programme, a leading UN agency inRussia, is realizing this important task. The activity of the agency is mainly aimed at helping social and economic development of the countries and promoting in their civil society and democracy. The UN agencies operating in the North Caucasus have been basically engaged in giving humanitarian aid. The social economic development programme for the region is a new trend in the activity of the agency and the United Nations as a whole since its operations have consistently turned into assisting social economic development from giving humanitarian aid. The project is linked with North Ossetia and Ingushetia. The agency opened its mission in Vldikavkaz in November. It is now drawing up the programme. At the same time it searches for partners, analyses the situation and plans economic development to solve the problems facing refugees living on these republics. The programme is designed for three years. The agency closely coordinates its work with the local administrations. The UN Development Programmes realizes several projects in the region, which would give real results in the near future. Among these projects are repairing and upgrading of transport infrastructure, sewage system, schools, parks and play grounds for children and other public places. This makes it possible for refugees to get temporary work. It is expected to create 250 jobs in the first stage. The United Nations, Sweden and Britain finance these projects. The work of this year's programme is estimated at 1.5 million US dollars. According to an aide the public relations official of the programme, Victoria Zotikova, the agency believes that the realization of even small projects will improve living standards of ordinary people and this might stimulate their desire for starting their own businesses. They can do so by taking small loans. Victoria Zotikova said that the programme would do its best to help them.
(more News from Chechnya...)

20 January 2005  Chechen police capable of fighting banditry - ministry
The formation of the Chechen Interior Ministry is almost complete, its chief of staff Col. Akhmed Dakayev told Interfax. "Chechen law enforcement departments have become units capable of solving the most difficult tasks in the regional fight against banditry," he said. Chechen police officers are fighting militants each day, he said. One hundred and thirty-four Chechen police officers died and 260 were wounded in clashes with guerrillas and in terrorist acts in 2004, he said.
(more News from Chechnya...)

20 January 2004  Chechen guerillas planning terrorist acts - headquarters
Russia's secret services have information indicating that Chechen guerilla leaders Aslan Maskhadov and Shamil Basayev are planning terrorist acts to destabilize the North Caucasus, a source in the headquarters for the anti-terrorist campaign in the North Caucasus told Interfax. "There is information that ringleaders Maskhadov and Basayev have ordered large-scale terrorist acts, primarily targeted against local civilians, in republics bordering on Chechnya. They want to destabilize the North Caucasus at large," the source said.
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Russia - Chechnya

Chechen culture

The modern-age Chechen literature started in the 1920s when writers and poets in Chechnya established contacts with colleagues in other parts of the Soviet Union. It was a close concern of such great founding fathers of the Soviet literature as A.Serafimovich, M.Gorky and M.Golodny. A.Serafimovich was a frequent visitor to Chechnya at the time. In 1929, he attended an executive meeting of the Grozny Association of Proletarian Writers. In an address to the gathering, he called on the Chechen writers 'to move as one into real life'. In 1930, he sponsored the publication of a Russian version of the poem 'To the Time of the Tsars' by the Chechen poet Said Baduyev. The poem was published in the opening issue of the NA PODYEME ('On the Rise') literary journal. In the late 1920s and in the opening half of the 1930s, M.Gorky was in overall charge of inter-ethnic literary exchanges within the Soviet Union. His favourite method was dispatching writer support brigades to outlying Soviet republics and regions. Said Baduyev in 1932 responded to this by publishing an essay entitled 'Maxim Gorky is Our Teacher'.
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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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