Actual News from Chechnya

News update

Gunmen on Maskhadov's instructions are trying to make the situation tense in the Chechen Republic before the first round table discussion on Chechnya in Strasburg that is planned for March 21 on the initiative of the PACE commission on political issues. Gunmen are trying this way to present themselves to the public as a force able to influence developments in the republic, Chechen leader Alu Alkhanov told a meeting of heads of federal and Chechen law-enforcement structures. The fuss over the so-called peace talks allegedly proposed by Maskhadov is not accidental, he believes. The round table discussion was originally planned to take place in Grozny, then there was talking about Moscow, and now it is planned to hold it outside Russia. There is a definite reason for it, the Chechen leader said. The recent attempt by gunmen to attack a district police office in the Sunzha region, when five bandits were killed and nine were seized, but police personnel members were also injured, is linked with the round table discussion, Alkhanov believes. Maskhadov's party wants to present itself as a force able to influence the situation in the republic, though it is far from the reality, the president said. All measures must be taken to prevent such situation aggravating attempts, he stressed. Alkhanov suggested working out a system of measures to prevent leaders of bandits from displaying their initiative in situation development.
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A carload of weapons was seized yesterday in the Achkhoi-Martan district of Chechnya as law enforcers intercepted two militants from Akaevs gang, the North Caucasus Counter-Terrorist Regional Operations HQ said. Investigators discovered four antitank grenade launchers, two AK assault rifles, six grenades and scores of rounds in their vehicle. The militia discovered that the militants had been commanded by Akaev to perpetrate terrorist acts targeting the heads of district and village administrations, civilians and militia officers. When questioned, the terrorists revealed their commanders plans, disclosing the names of some of their associates. The militia launched a hunt to arrest Akaevs subordinates still at large. The HQ went on to say that a major weapons and ammunition cache was located on the environs of the settlement of Rogun-Kazha, Nozhai-Yurt district, Chechnya. Militants had hid an AK assault rifle, an antitank grenade, a kilo of plastic explosives and more than 1,000 assorted cartridges in a destroyed building there. According to the source, the rounds were destroyed and the guns were sent for testing. Search for the bandits who stashed them is underway. (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

The poultry factory in Shali restoring its past fame

Before the 1990's of past century , the North-Caucasian poultry farm in the Shali region was considered the largest in the region. Each year it produced 6 million broiler meat and 15 million eggs. The total employment was 1,200 people. The original plan called for its restoration by the end of 2004. But unfortunately, not everything that is planned is actually carried out. This happened the North-Caucasian poultry farm because of the lack of financing. But its director Ilya Germansultanov is not one to lose heart. From the start of this year its financing resumed. Work is carried on by the general contractor "Balkarstroy" and the sub-contractor involved in this effort is Shali's regional company "Gigant". From the beginning of this year 30 million roubles' worth of equipment has been moved to the construction site. The primary objective is to launch the first complex to produce 240,000 chickens in two pens, an incubator and the slaughter house. The complex will be able to produce monthly up to 6 million eggs and up to 40 tons of chicken meat. Ilya Germasultanov is convinced there would be no problem with sales. The farm will strike agreements on deliveries not only for Chechnya itself, but also for Ingushetia, Dagestan and other regions of Russia. The first complex which is supposed to be commissioned early this quarter or next of this year will employ 150 people. And when the factory is fully completed it will employ up to 700 people from Shali , Kurchaloy, Urus-Martan and Grozny regions. Ilya Germasultanov is convinced that the North-Caucasian poultry farm will decidedly restore its former fame.
(more...)

Issue 269
09.03.05

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

09 Mart 2005  State Duma official on Maskhadov's death
There is no doubting the fact that the liquidation of Maskhadov highlights the success of our secret services, Gennady Gudkov, member of the Russian State Duma's security committee, told RIA Novosti on Tuesday. Maskhadov's death has dealt a serious political blow against international terrorism, Gudkov noted. Maskhadov used to unite foreign centers, he added. According to Gudkov, the West had perceived Maskhadov as a moderate separatist. The West, which had preferred Maskhadov, will now stop advocating talks because there are no longer any moderate Chechen separatists, Gudkov went on to say. In his words, the Chechen counter-terrorist operation will acquire new forms after Maskhadov's death. Separatist actions will become more disunited, the State Duma deputy believes. In Gudkov's opinion, terrorists will find it much harder to finance their groups after the death of Maskhadov.
(more News from Chechnya...)

09 Mart 2005  4 suspected collaborators with Beslan terrorists arrested
Investigative activities have resulted in the arrest of four suspected collaborators with the hostage-takers in Beslan and militants that raided Ingushetia in June 2004, Deputy Prosecutor General Nikolai Shepel told Interfax on Friday. "The investigation of the September 1-3, 2004 terrorist act in Beslan is continuing. In the process, four suspected collaborators with the terrorists at the stage of preparing the crime and attacking Ingushetia in June 2004 have been arrested. Five more were eliminated when they offered resistance," he said.
(more News from Chechnya...)

09 Mart 2004  Aslan Maskhadov destroyed in Chechnya
"In the course of a special operation conducted by Russia's FSB on March 8, 2005 in the village of Tolstoy-Yurt, Grozny district, Chechnya, one of the terrorist leaders Aslan Maskhadov was destroyed," reported Ilya Shabalkin, a spokesman for the regional headquarters of the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. He said that "also detained are his (Maskhadov's) accomplices Iliskhanov and Murdashev and his nephew Veskhan, who together with Maskhadov were hiding in an underground bunker under one of the houses in Tolstoy-Yurt." "Maskhadov was identified by local residents, and also members of federal forces. An operational-investigative group of the prosecutor's office of Chechnya has left for the scene to carry out the required investigative measures," Shabalkin said. As he noted, Aslan Maskhadov was destroyed when the bunker he was hiding in was blown up. Russian President Vladimir Putin had on that day a meeting with FSB director Nikolai Patrushev, who reported to the Russian head of state that bandit groups leader Aslan Maskhadov was liquidated in Chechnya. Patrushev also informed Putin that the preliminary identification had already been carried out, and it confirmed the identity of Maskhadov. A source in the North Caucasus department of the Prosecutor-General's Office of Russia, told RIA Novosti over the telephone that Maskhadov's body would not be handed over to his relatives. "According to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, bodies of terrorists under Article 205 (terrorism) are not issued to relatives," the agency's source explained. He said that under the law terrorists' bodies are buried on the territory of the constituent member of the Russian Federation where this terrorist was destroyed, but, he added, the place of the burial is known only to a limited circle of people from law enforcement bodies. The source recalled that the last time Maskhadov was put on an international search list was in connection with the Beslan terrorist act. So he comes within the operation of this law. Taus Dzhabrailov, head of the State Council of Chechnya, commenting on reports of Maskhadov's death said that his destruction "had knocked the ideological footing from under the militants' feet." "Practically those people who cited Maskhadov's legitimacy and demanded negotiations and received his emissaries are now left with no base or foundation," Dzhabrailov said. He said that following Maskhadov's destruction "there now remain only Basayev and a handful of mercenaries who must answer for atrocities committed against the Chechen people."
(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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