A
ONE-DAY BRAINSTORM OVER CHECHNYA: CHECHEN CONFERENCE IN
LONDON
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Wanted
For Peace: Scapegoats
Although
the words "We want a peaceful solution in Chechnya",
which we have been hearing for some time in the government
circles in the western capitals, may annoy Russia, which seems
to believe that she has a right to carry out massacres in
Chechnya >>>> |
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Former
Duma Speaker Ruslan Hasbulatov answered questions by Fehim
Taştekin, Editor, Agency Caucasus.
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| World
Chechen Congress in Denmark |
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World
Chechen Congress convenes on 28-29 October in Copenhagen
Denmark. The Congress targets to form a civilian initiative
to bring peace to Chechnya. >>>>
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| Irterview
with Shamil Basayev |
 |
Chief
of the Military Council of State Defense Council "Majlis
al-Shura" of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (C.R.I.),
Deputy Commander-In-Chief of C.R.I. Shamil Abu Idris gave
an interview to Chechen mass media by recording it on an
audiotape. Kavkaz Center would like to offer its readers
the text of that interview. >>>>
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VICTIMS
ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY DATA:
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| This
is a scream |
| CHECHEN
APPEAL TO WORLD COMMUNITY : "A NATION IS DYING" |
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Chairman
of the board of the Society of Concentration (Filtration)
Camp Prisoners Vaha Banzhayev sent an appealing letter
to the world community representatives and asked them
for help and protection. >>>>
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For
the years 1994 - 1996:
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|
killed
- 120 000 people,
passed through filtrational camps - 25 000 people,
among them shot without investigation and trial - 17 000
people,
disappeared without trace - 1 500 people,
crippled and invalids - 6 000 people.
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For
the years 1999-2001:
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killed
- 80 000 people,
passed through filtrational camps - more than 30 000 people,
shot without investigation and trial - 20 000 people,
disappeared without trace - 6 000 people,
invalids and crippled - about 30 000 people. |
|
FILTRATION
CAMPS AND POINTS OF TEMPORARY CONFINEMENT, WHERE THE INDICATED
CRIMES HAVE BEEN AND ARE BEING COMMITTED
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Chechnya
Chechnia
covers about 17.300 square km in 1999. In 1989 the number of Chechens
were 1.300.000, and 300.000 were Russians.
With about one million people, the Chechens are the most numerous
ethnic group in the North Caucasus. They are also the most industrious
in their struggle against Russia with the aim to be accepted as
a fully independent state. As a titular nationality amounting
to nearly 90 per cent of the republic's population, the problems
of Chechnia are significantly different from those of other republic.
Since the war of independence in the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries, and throughout The Soviet history, the Chechen have
kept alive the strongest opposition to Russia compared to all
the other groups in the North Caucasus.
Short history
During the 18th century struggle for control of the Caucasus region
by the Russian, Ottoman and Persian Empires, the Chechens fiercely
resisted Russian forces. The Chechens were led by Sheikh Mansur
in an uprising in 1785 and fought the Russians during the Caucasian
War of 1817-64 in the leadership of Imam Shamil. Chechnia was
occupied by Russia in 1858 and many residents were exiled to the
Ottoman Empire in 1865. Russians began to settle in the lowlands,
particularly after petroleum was discovered near Grozny in 1893.
After Bolshevik Revolution
The
Bolsheviks seized the region in 1918 but were dislodged the following
year by counterrevolutionary forces under Gen. A. I. Denikin.
With Soviet power reestablished, the area was included in 1921
in the Mountain People's Republic. The Chechen Autonomous Region
was created in 1922 and the Ingush Autonomous Region in 1924;
the two were joined in 1934 to form the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous
Region, which became an autonomous republic in 1936.
In 1944 the republic was dissolved and most inhabitants deported
to Kazakhstan after continued rebellions, resistance to Russian
rule, and alleged co-operation with the Germans during World War
II. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union condemned the deportation
on November 24, 1956 and the ASSR was reconstituted on January
9, 1957.
Declaration
of independence
During Glasnost years, Chechen independence increased, and in
the turmoil of the failed coup in Moscow in 1991, an All National
Congress of the Chechen People was formed, proclaimed independence,
and held elections for the presidency of the Chechen Republic.
Chechen leader General Dzhokhar Dudayev elected president In October
27, 1991. Dudayev was an Air Force General of The Soviet Army.
Ingushetia became a separate republic within the Russian Federation.
Ichkeriya was added to the name by presidential decree in 1994.
Chechnia refused to sign the Federation Treaty in 1992.
In 1992, Russia sent troops to the region
to quell an emerging war between the Ingush and the Ossetians.
Dudayev called for a Holy War against Russia, following an incident
where these troops crossed the border between Chechnia and Ingushetia.
The Soviet Parliament approved of the partition of Ingushetia
and Chechnia in June 1992. The country didn't participate in the
parliament elections in Russia and votes against the new Russian
constitution in December 1993. In January 16, 1994 the name Ichkeriya
added to the name of Chechnia.
In December 1994, Russian troops launched officially an offensive
against the forces of Chechnia.
President of The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, DUDAYEV, martyred
in April 21,1996. In August 31,1996, Hasavyurt Agreement signed,
which targeted to end the war, to get the Russian soldiers out
of Chechnia, and a substantial agreement of international principles
on The State of chechnia. Presidency and Parliament elections
under observation of international observers are held and Aslan
Maskhdov elected as president in January 27, 1997
Russian Federation and Chechen Republic of Ichkeria signed
another agreement as development of Hasavyurt Agreement which
signed by Boris Yeltsin and by Aslan Maskadov in May 12,1997.
This agreement targeted peace and principles and strenghtened
the position of Chechnia in international law.
In September 1999, in Russia and in Dagestan, several bombings
of unidentified description toot place and 250 people died. Russia
blamed Chechens and started military operations. But later on
it became known that these bombings are carried out by FSB(KGB).
Russia occupied Chechnia again in 1999 and Russian fierce
assaults have been continuing to this country.
Sources:
1- The Columbia Encyclopedia (Fifth Edition 1993, Columbia University
Press)
2- The North Caucasus: Minorities at a Crossroads (Helen Krag
and Larsh Funch)
3- Datebase of The Centre of Russian Studies (Norway)
