Free Chechnya Radio station

You can listen to Free Chechnya Radio station from 6 AM to 12 PM Moscow time on a frequency of 594 kHz on the medium wave band and on a frequency of 171 kHz on the long wave band. The programme is created with the involvement of the Ministry for culture and mass communication of the Russian Federation.
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Chechen Culture

Cultural events

Getting to Know Each Other Better

Late last month the Naur settlement in Chechnya hosted a republican festival of national cultural centers The Rainbow of Cultures. Taking part in the festival were childrens ensembles of the Nogai cultural center Ushkun, a joint Kumyk ethno-cultural center, a Russian national cultural center and Young Naur Cossacks ensemble. The festival was sponsored by the regional public organization Sozidaniye and the Center of Folk Creativity of the Chechen Republic. Ramzan Daudovdirector of that Center emphasized that at various times representatives of different peoples lived in friendship and accord and treated respectfully the culture, customs and languages of each other. Today, the Centers director noted , when our common adversaries attempt to sow grains of discord among them, we ought to show how important it is to live in peace and friendship. About 100 participants of the festival displayed their talents before the spectators. Dancers took turns appearing on stage and songs in native languages rang out. The Kumyk ensemble put up a humor program.. (more...)

Chechnya - famous chechens

Ibragim Bek Sarakaev (1883-1934)

Ibragim Bek Sarakaev was not only one of the first most talented Chechen writers and publicists. He was also an expert in the Chechen history, deep-rooted national traditions, and, of course, folklore of the Chechen people. His life story is unique and even legendary. Ibragim Bek Sarakaev was born on the 21st of September 1883 in the fortress of Vedeno. At the beginning of the 20th century he graduated from the practical school in Vladikavkaz. In 1902 he and moved to Tiflis, where he began his career as a journalist. He was a staff-member of the Caucasus(Kavkaz) magazine, one of the most popular magazines at that time. He was so talented that soon he published a number of stories and fiction essays. In 1907 Ibragim Bek Sarakaev moved to Vladikavkaz again where he became a staff-member of The Terek newspaper. Soon a prominent revolutionary bolshevik Sergei Kirov began working there as well. The two men became friends. Ibragim Bek Sarakaev also had close ties with other local periodicals, which published there more than 30 of his works in 1911 - 1914. He used various pen names to sign his works, such as Nokhcho, The Chechen, Vedankho, etc. His works were devoted to such problems as the development of the Chechen nation in general, the current system of jurisdiction and education. He sharply criticized the then authorities for their non-effectiveness in fighting anarchy and arbitrary rule. He also published historical and philosophical works Muridism, Trial and Execution of Shamil and others. Ibragim Bek Sarakaev did not use any pen names to publish these works as well as two other fictions and documentary books The Slums of Chechnya (1913) and Chechnya and Capture of Shamil(1914). For the first time in the history of the Chechen people The Slums of Chechnya and Chechnya and Capture of Shamil gave a true picture of the way of life of the locals. Also, these works demonstrated in the best possible way Ibragim Bek Sarakaevs talent as a writer. Soon after World War I began. Ibragim Bek Sarakaev served as a volunteer of the Tatar horse regiment of the local horse division. Later it became known as The Wild Division and became famous for the bravery and courage of its cavalrymen, including Ibragim Bek Sarakaev. Soon he became a sub colonel and was awarded St. George Order (IY degree and St. Anna Order (II degree). When Ibragim Bek Sarakaev served in the army, he, of course, wrote just from time to time. Mainly, those were short stories and essays. From his point of view, the lack of time could not but affect the quality of his works, so the author did not publish many of them. Besides, further development of the situation in the country after World War I left much to be desired and did not inspire him as a writer. Thats why he did not write much during the last 20 years of his life. After the 1917 February revolution in Russia Ibragim Bek Sarakaev served as an ad hoc officer (office pro hac vice) at the Gorny government headed by Abdul-Medjud (Tapy) Chermoev. During the Civil War he served in the legendary IX Red Army as a deputy commander at The Provision Department. Sergei Kirov gave him high recommendations. When the Soviet power was established in Chechnya, Ibragim Bek Sarakaev worked as a deputy head of the militia department of the Chechen autonomous republic. The then state security forces prosecuted him, but Ibragim Bek Sarakaevs death in 1934 was natural. He was buried in his native village of Vedeno.
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Issue 358
28.03.06

Chechnya: news | arguments | facts

28 Mart 2006 Grozny is Being Rebuilt According to the Approved Plan
The general plan took a long time to be approved after a careful study by architects who advised a more detailed re-examination of the construction of separate city regions. After necessary adjustments have been made, construction work began. All the areas where work is ongoing have been numbered. Under the plan apartment buildings are getting due attention and in downtown Grozny in the region of Minutka Square 2 and 3 storey buildings as well as 9 storey houses are being built. Due to the construction work in progress, the relocation of enterprises and factories at the government expense is under serious consideration. The shifting of Krasny Oktyabr factory has almost been decided and the conversion of the chemical plant is receiving attention. The main thing is not merely to build houses for the people but to ensure their affordability and comfort. If construction work proceeds according to planned pace, thousands of residents of Grozny will move into new flats before the end of the year. The chief architect of Grozny, Kaim Usupov has said that the Chechen capital should be fully reconstructed before 2010.
(more News from Chechnya...)

28 Mart 2006  Stakes High on Small Business Development
We are all aware that China gave birth to silk. But few people know that one of the first silk-making factories in Russia was located in Chechnya. And it used locally produced raw material, hence the name of a settlement in Shelkovskoi region - Shelkozavodski settlement. The Fund for small business support of the Chechen Republic has recently suggested breathing new life into the industry. Silk-making, according to Magomed Shovkhalov, director of the Fund, is a highly profitable business. A ton of silk threat fetches nearly 50,000 US dollars on the world market. This and other business projects developed by the Fund in the area of small entrepreneurship are aimed at creating a maximum number of new jobs at minimum costs to the budget. It business project "Vegetable growing", for example, envisages increasing vegetable production in Chechnya up to 100-150 thousand tons a year, thus creating 30,000 seasonal jobs. In the mountainous regions of Chechnya where unemployment is particularly high, the Fund is proposing another project aimed at fur animal breeding. The head enterprise is to be located in Nozhai-Yurt region with its branches to be located in Vedeno and Itum-Kalinski regions. The project requires an investment of 5 million rubles ($ 186,000). Such an investment is not that high considering its full technological cycle to include animal growing, skin-processing and manufacture of fur-based products. The project envisages slaughterhouse and fisheries refuse from neighboring Dagestan to be used for feed. More than a score of women have already offered their services in making fur-based products. As it turns out, Chechnya has its own specialists in fur animal growing, those who pursued this business illegally in Soviet times, when it was against the law to raise carnivorous animals in households. Since industrial fur animal raising is rather a novel business for Chechnya, the republic is counting on assistance from Moscow regions' fur animal growers. 300 new jobs will emerge in the republic through a crushed stone business project, which was undertaken by the "Alfa-UFO" holding. According to expert opinion, the Argun gorge in the republic will have enough gravel to last about 500 years. Gravel is the base material for making crushed stone, which is required not only in Chechnya along. Kalmykia, for example, is planning to build a new port in the city of Logan on the coast of the Caspian Sea, and gravel will be in high demand in the construction. Apart from crushed stone, the project also calls for the construction of two new plants to produce asphalt with concrete and prefabricated wall slabs. It is important to note that the Fund for small business support in the Chechen Republic, apart from developing business projects, also provides financial support to implement those projects. It has recently opened a line of credit on favorable terms worth 6 million rubles (over $220,000) for "Vainakh-Telekom" company, which is involved in telecommunications business in the republic. The annual interest rate is only 8 percent. Any entrepreneur is entitled to receive such favorable credits. The only stipulation is that an applicant for a favorable credit has to invest his own financial resources at a rate matching state credits. This approach seems reasonable enough, because business is always a risk and if an entrepreneur does not wish to risk his money, there's no reason why the state should. "Vainakh-Telekom, for example, has invested into the project 8 million rubles of its own resources.
(more News from Chechnya...)

27 Mart 2004  Chechen president Alu Alkhanov for equal partnership with Rosneft
Chechen President Alu Alkhanov, speaking at a press conference at the Itar-Tass news agency on Friday, came out for equal partnership with the Rosneft company. The Chechen leadership comes out for equal relations with the Rosneft Company, but does not suggest bringing the Grosneft company (a Rosneft branch) under Chechen control, Alkhanov said. In the near future we shall meet the Rosneft managers and voice our proposals for the development of the oil business in Chechnya. Alkhanov said. "We pursue only one goal - to establish mutually advantageous and equal relations with the oil concern," Alkhanov said, "I suggest equal relations of partnership with the Rosneft company." Alkhanov stressed. " Holding a license to develop oil resources "at home" in Chechnya, which annually contributes more than two billion roubles to the regional budget, is of benefit to Chechnya," Alkhanov said." We are interested in the development of the oil business; merely "pumping out' mineral resources is irrational both to Chechnya and to Russia in general," Alkhanov said. He expressed regret, saying that as soon as Chechnya voices rational proposals "we hear an outcry that Chechnya wants to nationalize everything and that it has more ambitions than Dudayev and Maskhadov,"Alkhanov noted. " I have never asked that the Groznreft company should be turned over to Chechnya. We are asking no more than the other regions," Alkhanov said. Earlier, the Chechen parliament made a decision to appeal to the Russian government, asking for a control block of shares of the Grozneft company. At present, Chechnya owns 49 percent of the shares of the Rosneft branch, but Chechnya is two percent short of the control block. The Rosneft company said that the funds raised from oil development in Chechnya are remitted to bank accounts of the Russian Energy and Industry Ministry that allocates these funds to the restoration of the oil processing sector in Chechnya and development of its oil and gas sector. Last year, the Grozneft company produced 2.2 million tons of oil. The earnings worth 20 billion roubles were remitted to bank accounts of the federal ministry, a source from the Rosneft company said.
(more News from Chechnya...)

Russia - Chechnya

Chechen history

The Pulse publishing house in Moscow published on the History of Chechnya in the 19-20th Centuries. Its authors are renowned scholars of history Y.Z. Akhmadov and E.K. Khasmagomadov. This book represents a thematic continuation of research by Y. Akhmadov The History of Chechnya from Ancient Times to the end of the 18th Century (Peace Be on Your House, 2001). We posted an abridged version of the book on our Web-site.
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