Actual News from Chechnya

News update

A large amount of antidotes used to counter poisoning by toxic agents has been discovered in the home of field commander Rizban Chitigov, who was killed in Shali last week, the Chechen security service's public relations department told Interfax on Monday. "Disposable syringes filled with aphine were discovered during searches in Chitigov's home, in addition to weapons and ammunition," the group said. It was reported earlier that Chitigov was killed in a sweep operation in Shali on March 23.
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Funds to pay compensations to Chechen residents for destroyed housing have been spent for their intended purpose, reads the report on analysis of spending of state funds allocated on Chechnya that was considered on Friday at a session of Russia's Audit Chamber's board. "The planned budget funds to pay compensations to the residents of the republic for fully destroyed housing and lost property have been spent fully in line with their intended purpose. 39,000 compensations have been paid, with over 130,000 applications," reads the report of the chamber's information and public relations department. "However, during a spot check of the compensation payments made, it turned out that the legality of some of them is doubtful and requires an additional check," reads the press release. "Issues connected with resumption of financing or transfer of uncompleted construction volumes onto the balance of state clients or the Chechen government have not been resolved yet. As of January 1, 2005, to complete the construction of 2,869 facilities under restoration, more than 19 billion rubles ($1 equals 27.7 rubles) were required," reads the statement. A check of compensation payments for damaged housing in Chechnya has exposed financial violations to the tune of more than 100 million rubles, reports the regional command center for supervising the North Caucasian counter-terrorist operation ($1 equals 27.71 rubles). Meskhety residents received more than 1,100 compensations for damaged homes. Meanwhile that village has only 800 houses, a command-center spokesperson noted. Sixty compensations were received in Balantsu village (the Nozhai-Yurt district). According to auditors, only three payments can be called legal there. Criminal proceedings have already been instituted in this connection. Investigators are getting ready to submit their materials to the republican prosecutor's office. According to the regional command center, the authorities are trying to expose unlawful compensation payments for damaged housing all over the republic. (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

Italy shows interest in Achxoi-Martan Company

The Achxoi-Martan company Teplostroiproekt-S or Heat creation project-S is a private firm that has for ten years now been producing heating systems of international standards. Many regions in Russia are showing interest in the companys products and the activity of the enterprise has been praised by the Chechen Prime Minister, Sergei Abramov. Officials of the firm have recently taken part in an international exhibition held in Moscow in one of the pavilions of the Exhibition center. The exhibition was devoted to climate equipment and apart from Achxoi-Martan several other countries in the business of producing heating systems like Sweden, Germany, Spain and Italy took part in the exhibition. After winning the 2003 competition called 100 best goods of Russia the Achxoi-Martan company was invited by officials of the Exhibition center to take part in the above mentioned exhibition. At the exhibition officials from Siberia and the Far East showed interested in the products of the firm from Achxoi-Martan and want to establish a branch of the company in their regions to complete the building of their boilers. Representatives of the company from Achxoi-Martan briefed them about the technical details of their project. Soon a programme based on those technical details will begin to be realized. Kazakhstan has also displayed interest in the products of the Achxoi-Martan firm since Italy has supplied similar items to Kazakhstan. After studying technical details of the Heat creating project-S Italy changed its investment plans and now want to supply complete parts to the Chechen Company which in turn will assemble module boilers to be sent to Kazakhstan. The investor and main contractor is Italy while Kazakhstan is the client.
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Issue 275
29.03.05

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

29 Mart 2005  Twenty eight vehicles loaded with stolen oil found in Chechnya
Twenty-eight big vehicles loaded with stolen oil products were detained in Chechnya over the past 24 hours. More than 80 tonnes of fuel and lubricants were also seized. Three stolen cars sough by federal police were found, and five cars with changed number units were also discovered. A Makarov pistol was seized from one of the drivers. These are results of the first day of the operation "Barrier" conducted by Chechen traffic and OMON special-purpose police to find stolen vehicles and stop operation of "the oil mafia", Chechen traffic police chief Lomali Kazimagomadov told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.
(more News from Chechnya...)

29 Mart 2005  Policeman sentenced to eleven years in Grozny
Grozny's Oktyabrsky district court has sentenced Nizhnevartovsk interior department officer Sergei Lapin to 11 years in prison on abuse of office charges. Lapin was also barred from taking up jobs in the Interior Ministry for three years after he is released from prison.
(more News from Chechnya...)

28 Mart 2004  Europe realises Chechnya enters new political stage - Alkhanov
The European Community has come to understand the fact that Chechnya has entered a new stage in the political situation, Chechen President Alu Alkhanov said answering an Itar-Tass query on Monday. Alkhanov gave an assessment to a roundtable discussion on Chechen problems held by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on March 21. He said the roundtable was constructive and productive. We did not have different stances as before. A real dialogue has taken place, the Chechen president pointed out. He stressed the republics people have unambiguously stated their desire to build a future within Russia on a peaceful basis. Our doors are open for those who want to participate in the peaceful creative process, Alkhanov said. He also said former members of parliament of the so-called Ichkeria republic are now actively preparing for elections to be held in Chechnya this autumn. And the fact that there are so many members of the former government of Maskhadov working in the Chechen government now shows that we are adherent to a peaceful course and this course has been determined by the people, according to Alkhanov. If we say that the expression of will by the people is essential this fact should be reckoned with. And we are ready to accept anybody who adheres to this course, the Chechen president noted.
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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.
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