Actual News from Chechnya

News update

A giant statue of slain Chechen president Akhmad Kadyrov will be erected in Grozny's main square, a Russian arts official said here on Friday. Russian sculptor Zurab Tseretely has been commissioned to create the 3.5 metres (11 feet) likeness of Kadyrov that will be placed upon a 6.5 metres granite pedestal. "I shall try and put all Akhmad Kadyrov's force of character and wisdom into this work," Tseretely, an artist popular with Moscow authorities, told the Gazeta newspaper. The foundation stone of the monument to Kadyrov is to be placed on the first anniversary of the May 9, 2004 bomb attack on the Grozny stadium that killed him, and the inauguration of the statue itself is due August 23, which would have been his birthday. In the first Chechen conflict of 1994-96 Kadyrov was with the independence movement but switched allegiance during the second conflict and was placed at the head of the pro-Russian administration before becoming president of the federal Russian state in October 2003.
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Chechnya celebrates the Chechen Language Day for the first time in the history of the republic. Chechen President Alu Alkhanov signed a relevant decree. The celebration marks the publication of the first issue of the Chechen newspaper Rodina in 1923. On the eve of the anniversary, the Chechen President met with editorial staff of the newspaper and assured journalists that he would "make all possible efforts to increase the importance of the Chechen language." "If we do not take practical steps in the development of our native language, we will face the danger of losing it in 50 years," Alkhanov said. In his opinion, it is a serious problem because "even the young generation of Chechens does not know how to write and read in their native language." "We are the largest ethnic group in the Northern Caucasus and in order to educate the new generation in the spirit of patriotism, we must pass the knowledge of the mother tongue to children and teach them to love their Motherland - Russia," Alkhanov emphasized. He supported the initiative of Chechen linguists to introduce education in Chechen language at primary schools starting from the beginning of the next school year. (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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Chechnya is to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory

The 60th anniversary of the Victory in World War Two will be widely and triumphantly celebrated in all parts of Russia. From reading matter posted on this site you will be able to learn about preparations for this glorious jubilee in the Chechen Republic, about its World War Two veterans and about the help and assistance the Republic provides to the veterans.
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Issue 283
26.04.05

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

26 April 2005  Restoring Grozny will not be possible without restoring historical and cultural monuments
Grozny was one of the most beautiful cities in Southern Russia and we are sure that after its rebuilding it will once more be such. It will be rebuilt with the taking into account of the latest achievements in architecture but such will not be possible without restoring buildings which are of historical and monumental significance, deputy chairman of the Chechen governments committee on architecture and city construction, Yury Zaurbekov has said. He said that the committee was working on the rebuilding of the central part of Grozny envisaging the keeping of historical and cultural monuments. The Chechen government committee is in close contact with the Russian culture ministry and the Moscow branch of the Fund for maintaining architectural monuments, arts and culture and a census of all such objects requiring priority attention is being taken. Some of them are to be included in the Russian special programme for restoring Chechnya. Historical buildings in Grozny like the house of Nakhimov on the corner of Polezhayev Street and Krasnyx frontavikov, house of Esambayev, house of Abubakar on the intersection of the Partizansky and Lenin Streets and the house of merchant Mutushev on the corner of Lenin Street will be rebuilt according to their old forms. Speaking about the immediate plans of reconstructing Chechnya, Mr. Zaurbekov said that a 4 storey building is to be put up on prospect Akhmad Kadyrov based on the design of the young architect, S.M Kadiyev in which a flower shop will be located on the first floor , offices on the second floor while the 3rd and 4th floors will be used as hotels The oil institutes building complex will be restored but the old school site will also be taken over by the institutes building, thus the whole institute will now be in the same place. The school in which A. Sheripov studied will have a new building incorporating elements of its old features and will include a memorial plaque honouring the famous Chechen revolutionary Theres a plan to turn Prospect revolution from the building of the drama theater into a pedestrian street and both sides will become zones of culture, relaxation and shopping malls. The Street will extend to river Sunzha across which a pedestrian bridge having a glass roof will be built. Parks where children cars can be rented to enable them have a joy ride across the bridge will be created on both sides of the river. The Street will cross the Proletarsky one to link up with the public garden on Tolstgoi where the Chechen State University is sited
(more News from Chechnya...)

25 April 2005  Chechen elections will anchor regional stability - Putin
President Vladimir Putin lauded the upcoming parliamentary elections in Chechnya and said they will lay a foundation for regional stability. "I support the holding of parliamentary elections in Chechnya this year. They should become the core of stability and democracy in the region," Putin said in his state of the nation address in parliament on Monday. "The North Caucasus already has good prerequisites for economic growth," he said. The region has one of the most developed transport infrastructures in Russia and a qualified labor force, he said. "The number of local residents wanting to go into business exceeds the Russian average," he said. At the same time, the shadow economy is much bigger in that region, Putin said. The authorities must not only strengthen law enforcement and the court system, but also promote businesses, Putin said.
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25 April 2004  Two guerillas detained in Chechnya
Two active members of illegal armed groups have been detained in Chechnya in the past 24 hours, the press center of the headquarters of the antiterrorist operation in the North Caucasus said on Saturday. Using information provided by a member of illegal armed units who voluntarily surrendered earlier, security forces detained a guerilla from Alkhan-Kala in Grozny's Leninsky district. The detainee was a member of guerilla units led by Khamzat Tazabayev (killed in March 2004) and Alikhan Mashugov (killed in December 2004), which directly reported to Shamil Basayev, the press center said. Tazabayev's and Mashugov's units committed numerous grave crimes against the residents of Grozny, the Grozny rural district, the Naurskaya and Urus-Martan districts. In particular, Mashugov's men killed head of the Alkhan-Kala administration Malika Umasheva in the summer of 2003. Investigators also found out that the man is responsible for setting off a remote-controlled mine near Alkhan-Kala administration building in April 2004. The explosion wounded two Chechen policemen, it said. Operatives also detained a resident of Shali, who was a member of a unit led by warlord Alvi Tasuyev, who was killed in March 2005. The guerilla was on a wanted list for murders, illegal arms trafficking, and membership of illegal armed units, the press service said.
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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.
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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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