Actual News from Chechnya

News update

The participants in the seminar on the role of civil society in the North Caucasus believe that young Chechens should spend summer vacations in youth camps and on tours to other Russian regions. A decision to expand work in this sphere in 2005 was made at the seminar. Moreover, it is necessary to let young Chechens study in other regions of the Russian Federation. The participants in the seminar also decided to boost the activities on Russian political parties, in particular, the United Russia, the Communist Party, Rodina (Motherland) and the Union of the Right Forces (SPS) on Chechen territory. They also offered party members to forward proposals to the Republic's administration. Head of the Russian federal agency for culture and cinematography Mikhail Shvydkoi who attended the seminar said that civil society could not be formed without a strong executive power. According to him, it is necessary to start serious work with young Chechens because Chechen people have lost many of its traditions in the past ten years. "It is necessary to restore Chechen intelligentsia which used to play an important role in the republic, to revive club life and children's bands and to make young people return to Chechnya," Mr. Shvydkoi stressed. In his opinion, Chechen authorities should create infrastructure for cultural development.
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Chechnya will provide 13,000 new job opportunities within the year, vouched republican President Alu Alkhanov. He was addressing a seminar, underway at RIA Novosti today, on civil society contribution to the North Caucasian social stability cause. "We shall offer ten to thirteen thousand new jobs even this year, and twice the number, or even more, next year," he said. The President forecast sweeping economic progress in Chechnya quite soon. "Next year will bring an economic boom. And things will be even better in 2007." He called the gathering of Chechen intellectuals to encourage the republic's population and offer it unbiased information about all improvements that come to Chechnya. "There is very much in current Chechen developments to play into the opposition hand. We are coming through hardships-there are houses lying in ruins, and people kidnapped." All those problems harass the republican top in its efforts. "We are to take stock of the situation. Please explain to the public that the hard times will pass, and we shall overcome all adversities." Chechnya has chosen peace, creative work, and economic rehabilitation-and that matters more than anything else, stressed President Alkhanov. The seminar opened yesterday. Prominent on the gathering, apart from the republican President, are Vladislav Surkov, deputy chief of Kremlin staff; Andrei Fursenko, federal Education and Research Minister; and Aslanbek Aslakhanov, President Vladimir Putin's adviser. The event has brought together more than fifty spokesmen of numerous Chechen-based public, political, media, educational and cultural organizations. (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

Rosselkhozbank works successfully in Chechnya

The regional bank of the Rosselkhozbank has been functioning in Grozny since March 2000. The bank opened under the instructions of the Russian President Vladimir Putin and is aimed at reviving national crediting system for the agricultural and industrial complex. According to its chairman, Yuri Trushin, 250 branches have been opened in many Russian regions. Bank plans to set up another 100 branches in rural areas in the country this year. When Rosselkhozbank opened its branch in Grozny it was the only bank in Chechnya. The task before the bank was to serve judicial persons at the earliest and help the reconstruction of the republics economy and social area. The Russian government laid on the bank the task of paying compensation for people who lost their houses. And the Bank has served up to one thousand clients a day. At present there are ten branches of the bank, 2 in Grozny and 8 in other districts. Bank gives loan actively in the sowing and harvesting seasons. From the very beginning it started to give loans to farms. Bank gives short term credits up to 2 million rubles for one year and long-term for five years. The bank received a license for serving natural persons in 2003. Since then Rosselkhozbank has opened accounts for people and carried out transactions. The bank is involved in realizing social programmes in villages and as an agent-bank in the construction of houses in rural areas it gives loans to buy personal town house, subsidiary enterprise and livestock.
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Issue 267
28.02.05

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

28 February 2005  Chechen militants may number 1,500 - Dzhabrailov
There are no more than 1500 armed militants in Chechnya, the republic's State Council Chairman Taus Dzhabrailov said on Friday. "As far as I know, the militants have a numerical strength limit of 1,500 men. This number is fully financed and supported from the East and from other countries," Dzhabrailov told a news conference at Interfax on Friday. Separatist emissaries are operating in villages inside and outside Chechnya to recruit fighters to maintain their strength at the 1,500 limit, he said. "Tentatively, it can be said that about 1,000 militants are permanently in camps in the mountainous parts of the Chechen Republic. Their hard core consists of groups under the control of [Shamil] Basayev and Arab mercenaries, of whom there are about 300 to 400 men," Dzhabrailov said.
(more News from Chechnya...)

28 February 2005  240,000 young people receiving education in Chechnya
Russian Education and Science Minister Andrei Fursenko said 240,000 young people were presently receiving education in Chechnya. He said this at the seminar "The role of civil society in ensuring social stability in the North Caucasus" held on Saturday in RIA Novosti. According to Mr. Fursenko, it's necessary to define now what specialists Chechnya needs first of all to train them. The minister said that "there are outstanding enthusiasts from among teachers in the republic, who are an example for the entire Russia." In his turn, Deputy Culture and Mass Communications Minister Leonid Nadirov said that "the stress should be laid on the mass forms of culture that enjoy popularity among young people."
(more News from Chechnya...)

28 February 2004  D.Kozak: Chechnya cannot develop without civil society institutions
Presidential envoy in the Southern Federal District Dmitry Kozak deems it impossible for Chechnya to develop without establishment of civil society institutions. "It is impossible to ensure the republic's economic and political development without establishing basic institutions of civil society," Kozak said at the seminar "Role of Civil Society in Ensuring Social Stability in North Caucasus". According to him, until a comprehensive system of local government is firmly in place in Chechnya, effective solution of a host of problems confronting the republic is "out of the question". The presidential envoy stressed that it was necessary to bar the widespread practice in the North Caucasus when "vested interests of certain groups are voiced by way of pompous declarations". "Settlement of all political issues should be held in a civilized way - through conduct of a referendum or an election according to international standards. This is the only way to address issues pertaining to establishment of the republic's social and political system," Kozak said. Participants in the seminar pointed out that the infrastructure of a normal civil society in Chechnya has been destroyed and is practically non-existent. Many participants urged the national NGOs and political parties to be more active in setting up their branches in Chechnya. Among other things, they highlighted youth problems as one of the main concerns on the authorities' agenda. Participants also spoke in favour of more dynamic efforts to be taken in advancing educational standards of young Chechens, expansion of a network of training courses preparing young people for admission to colleges and universities, and organization of familiarization trips for young Chechens to get to know their counterparts in other regions of Russia. The seminar participants also called on all Russia's political parties to take a more active part in the electoral process currently under way in the run up to the forthcoming parliamentary elections in the republic. Media problems were also in the focus of the seminar's discussion. According to many speakers at the forum, mass media must display a responsible approach toward the developments taking place in the region and supply the public with objective information concerning all events in Chechnya. The speakers highlighted the importance of constructive criticism in media for re-establishment of normal life in the republic. All seminar participants also acknowledged the necessity of an "inter-Chechen" dialogue between different political figures in the republic. The seminar, held on the premises of RIA Novosti, is attended by head of presidential administration Vladislav Surkov, President of the Chechen Republic Alu Alkhanov, Russia's Education Minister Andrei Fursenko, presidential aide Aslanbek Aslakhanov, and over fifty representatives of various civic, political, media, educational and cultural organizations of the Chechen Republic.
(more News from Chechnya...)

Russia - Chechnya

Chechen culture

The fifth filial of Mikhail Y. Lermontov - the great Russian poets museum opened in an ancient house in the village of Paraboch of the Shelkovki Region in Chechnya . The house is nearly 250 years old and it belonged to a local landlord, retired general Akim Khastatov whose wife Yekaterina Stolypina was a distant relative to Lermontovs grandmother Yelizaveta Arsenyevna. The latter visited Khastatovs estate several times. And she took along young Mikhail, whom she raised after his mothers death. In 1837 during his exile to the Caucasus, Lermontov revisited the home of his relatives. In 1841, he went there for the last time shortly before his death. The building has been well preserved. In 1990 restoration work was begun to make a museum of the great poet. But the events of the past decade postponed all restoration work. Fortunately the building wasnt damaged in the course of hostilities. But it is in need of maintenance. The most important thing that its internal architecture, the living room, window shutters and certain items that the poet may have touched, have all been preserved. In 2004 museum personnel was formed. Svetlana Temirbulatova a learned person and a known philologist in Chechnya was appointed the museums director. The employees will be allocated part of the museum as a working area. The employees will engage in search of items and materials of Lermontovs time and complete the museums exposition. As soon as the building is passed over into the Chechen Culture Ministry care, restoration and maintenance work will get underway. Later on it will receive its first visitors.
(chechen culture ...)

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.
(in detail ...)

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