Albert

Kadyrov Gets Vertical in Chechnya

President of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov reorganized that republic's government yesterday, cutting the number of deputy prime ministers from eight to three. Among the posts cut was the deputy prime minister for law enforcement, occupied by Adam Delimkhanov, a man from the president's inner circle. By bringing law enforcement under his direct control and making the prime minister's position strictly formal, Kadyrov has concentrated political power in his own hands. Odes Baisultanov was confirmed as prime minister of the republic yesterday as well.
Kadyrov announced that Baisultanov would be the next prime minister on March 8, soon after he was confirmed as the republic's president. Baisultanov has been praised for restoring the republic's cement plant and the Grozny airport. The decision to cut the number of deputy prime ministers were unexpected, however. Delimkhanov is expected to be named first deputy prime minister. Lema Magomadov will remain deputy prime minister for social issues and Abdul-Kakhir Izrailov will be deputy prime minister in charge of the presidential executive staff and the government.

The following were deprived of their ranks as deputy prime ministers: Chechen Minister of Agriculture Khasan Taimaskhanov, Finance Minister Eli Isaev, Industry Minister Amadi Temishev and the republic's representative to the Russian president Ziyad Sabsabi.

Khusein Dzhabrailov, brother of Checnya's representative in the Federation Council Umar Dzhabrailov, was recent transferred from the post of first deputy prime minister to the insignificant post of Chechen presidential representative in Moscow. Observers say that his political prominence became an impediment to him in Chechnya.

Source: Kommersant, Apr. 11, 2007

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Albert

Ichkerian Minister Flees to Italy on Putin's Heels

While Russian President Vladimir Putin was meeting with Italian Romano Prodi in Italy, former Ichkerian health minister Umar Khanbiev was asking for political asylum in that country and made statements about human rights abuses in Chechnya. Khanbiev arrived on Tuesday from Germany and was met by Italian politicians at the airport. Yesterday he held a large press conference in Rome, where he called on Italian politicians to “tell the truth about human rights in Chechnya.”
Prodi did not react to Khanbiev's statements. Putin suggested that he return to Chechnya and work as a doctor.

Umar Khanbiev headed the Ichkerian Ministry of Health in 1997, immediately after the election of Aslan Maskhadov president. His brother Magomed was minister of defense at the same time. In the autumn of 1999, when federal forces bombed Grozny by air, Khanbiev opened a hospital in Grozny and personally treated the wounded. He was taken prisoner when federal forces entered the city in January 2000 and placed in the Chernokozovo filtration camp. It has been suggested that businessman Malik Saidullaev helped him get out of the camp.

Khanbiev moved to Baku, where he represented Maskhadov before Western politicians and human rights workers. His brother at that time was in the mountains with Maskhadov. He was named the general representative of the Ichkerian president abroad in 2004 and replaced Akhmed Zakaev for some time. His office was eliminated after Maskhadov's death in March 2005. The succeeding Ichkerian president, Abdul-Khalim Saidullaev, is represented only by Zakaev, his foreign minister. The prosecutor's office of Chechnya says that it has no information concerning Khanbiev's participation in illegal armed groups and has no criminal cases open against him. He has been living in Germany in recent years and his motivation for seeking asylum in Italy is unclear.

Source: Kommersant, Mar. 15, 2007

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Albert

Advisor of Russian President Says Azerbaijan May Help in Reconstruction Chechen Economy

Aslanbek Aslakhanov, the Advisor of the Russian President, considers that Azerbaijan may help in the reconstruction of the economy of Russia’s Chechen Republic.

“ Azerbaijan might render its aid to Chechen Republic in reconstructing almost the completely destroyed oil complex, as well as render assistance in some agricultural issues. Azerbaijan might render its assistance in issues connected with new up-to-date technologies. Azerbaijan may also render its assistance with providing the Russian Republic with working force and high-skilled Azerbaijani specialists, particularly in the field of oil and gas, since Chechnya is currently experiencing a great lack of specialists practically in all spheres of economy – in construction sector, agriculture, railway communication, oil production, etc. We might cooperate in the issue on passing loads via the territory of the Republic. No doubt that Chechnya can restore and normalize relations with all the regions neighbouring to it. I am sure that these ties will not only completely restored, but also rapidly develop and strengthen in the future,” has replied Mr. Aslakhanov, answering a question put by Trend Correspondent to Russia during the press-conference being held in Moscow today

Mr. Aslakhanov added that “unfortunately, we cannot boast of any serious results in the issue of cooperation between Chechen republic and Azerbaijan”. He admitted that one should not forget that Chechnya was a Russian region, and did not have the right to independently establish contacts with independent Azerbaijan, as well as with any other country to solve issues of a social and economic nature.

According to the Russian official, Chechnya should solve all the aforesaid within intergovernmental commissions, and take corresponding actions only if they “bless” this or that.

“There are great possibilities to cooperate with Azerbaijan in the sphere of oil and gas, jointly solve issues with pipelines and transit of oil and gas. We are well aware of the fact that the issue of stealing is one of the most pressing one. We have serious troubles with stealing of transit oil both on the territory of Chechnya and Azerbaijan. As far back as in the Soviet period, I personally found the places, where little pipes had been lead to the federal pipe, wherefrom oil products were willingly stolen. That was in Azerbaijan as well, when I was engaged with economic issues there. Regarding to Chechen Republic, here everything was divided among cooperative armies and groups, who controlled stealing oil and gas on different areas,” said the Advisor of the Russian President.

Mr. Aslakhanov also stated that Russia was deeply concerned with NATO’s approaching to the Russian borders. “When our close economic, political, and strategic partners begin ingratiating themselves with U. S. A. and NATO, and even express their claims to join the Euro-Atlantic Alliance. That certainly causes our bewilderment and forces to act correspondingly,” concluded the Russian official.

Source: TREND news Agency; April 12, 2007

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Albert

Billboards depict a child’s perspective of life in Chechnya

NEW YORK, USA, 13 April 2007 – Fourteen billboards funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) have been set up by UNICEF in Chechnya.

The images on the billboards reflect children’s hopes for a return to normality following years of violence. They were taken by Chechen children who participated in a photography workshop funded by ECHO and organized by UNICEF in 2006.

Two photos selected by the children themselves are displayed on the huge signs, which are located in populous urban areas.

One image – taken by Magomed Bamatkireev, 14, who lost a leg during military operations in Chechnya – shows a smiling girl with a jump-rope leaping high against a blue sky. The other photo – shot by Maryam Sadulayeva, 17 – shows a boy playing with drops of water, surrounded by the hands of his peers.

‘She deserves to live in peace’

The billboards were widely welcomed by the local population.

“I was so touched by the image of this very beautiful smiling jumping girl,” said Fatima Ibraghimova, a teacher at school No. 42 in the Chechen Republic’s capital, Grozny. “When you look at her, you think that there is no room for wars, destruction and anything negative. She is so happy! She deserves to live in peace and happiness.”

An image shot by Maryam Sadulayeva, 17, was also selected for the ECHO-UNICEF billboards now drawing public attention in Chechnya.

Tamusa Eldarova of Chechnya’s Ministry of Labour and Social Development added that the presence of “such humane billboards” testified to the “normalization of the situation in Chechnya. It’s high time to improve life of children. ECHO and UNICEF are doing so much to improve life of the population of Chechnya.”

As young photographer Magomed observed: “The jumping girl is a symbol of Chechnya coming back to life.”

European Commission and UNICEF partnership

The European Commission has been providing assistance in the North Caucasus since 1999. It does this largely through its humanitarian aid department, ECHO. It was this department that funded the youth photography workshop, just one of numerous joint projects supported by ECHO and UNICEF in the Chechen Republic.

Only last September the EC donated €9.5 million to UNICEF specifically for the education and health sectors in the Chechen Republic and the Republic of Ingushetia. These funds are already being used to train as many as 3,000 teachers and equip schools and health facilities, including two large hospitals in Grozny.

Since 2001, with ECHO funding, UNICEF has been supporting water and sanitation and mine risk education programmes, and has provided psychosocial rehabilitation to children in Chechnya. In addition, education interventions – including provision of textbooks and other materials – have been carried out in Chechnya and Ingushetia.

UNICEF itself has been providing assistance to children and mothers in the North Caucasus since late 1999. The organization has implemented projects valued at over $40 million there, in partnership with local authorities and international and local NGOs. In the region, UNICEF specializes in education, health, water and sanitation, child rights’ advocacy, mine action, psychological rehabilitation and promotion of peace and tolerance.

Source: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 13 Apr 2007

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Albert

Day of Chechnya: Ramzan Kadyrov inaugurated as the Chechnya's new president

Ramzan Kadyrov was sworn in as president of Chechnya on Thursday in a
star-studded ceremony here. Kristina Orbakaite and Nikolai Baskov were
among the celebrities in attendance at the lavish inauguration, and
rumors were rife that Patricia Kaas, Shakira and Beyonce would fly in
for a concert Thursday evening. The inauguration committee said,
however, that no foreign stars would take part in the concert.

Wearing his Hero of Russia medal, Kadyrov placed his hand on a copy of
the Chechen Constitution and was sworn in during a brief ceremony.
Dmitry Kozak, the presidential envoy to the Southern Federal District,
presented him with an official identity card. "When a new leader comes
along, all hopes are placed on him. I hope you fulfill those desires,"
President Vladimir Putin said in a message read by Kozak. "You have to
continue the work of reviving Chechnya."

The ceremony took place in a specially built pavilion next to the
president's private residence in Gudermes. Security was tight all over
the republic, with the entire police force on duty. Police officers
were stationed every 100 meters along the road as more than 1,500
guests and 200 journalists arrived for the ceremony. Eleven chartered
planes flew in from Moscow for the occasion. Everyone was searched at
least twice before entering the pavilion.

Before the inauguration, the republic had been a hive of activity.
Certain parts of Grozny, which is undergoing enormous rebuilding work,
were ordered to be finished by Thursday. Most government workers,
including policemen, took part in cleaning up the republic in the days
before the ceremony. Fountains were turned on Thursday for the first
time this year.

The inauguration was also a time for local leaders to pay tribute to
Kadyrov. Arsen Kanokov, the president of the North Caucasus republic
of Kabardino-Balkaria, said he and Kadyrov had agreed "never to give
each other daggers, Mauser pistols, automatic machine guns or other
arms." "These arms we have already presented to the whole of Russia.
And that is why today I brought Kadyrov a painting and also present
him with the keys to a Mercedes," Kanokov said.

Although Chechnya is one of the poorest regions in the country,
Kadyrov often receives lavish gifts. On his 30th birthday, Kadyrov was
given a Ferrari, reportedly worth $450,000, with his own personalized
license plates. Rostselmash, a top manufacturer of agricultural
equipment, gave Kadyrov a combine harvester in honor of his inauguration.

Source: Gazeta, No 62, p.1. Author: Maryam Arbiyeva

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Mobileidea

It is a pity to me Hanbiev. Under rigid pressure probably.

Albert

Gunmen attack Grozny checkpoint, injure 6 Russians

Gunmen injured six Russian policemen during a night attack on a checkpoint on the outskirts of the Chechen capital, Grozny, on Wednesday, an interior ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

Chechen rebels and Russian forces have fought two wars in the southern Russian republic since 1994. The Kremlin has poured millions of dollars into reconstructing the destroyed province and now wants to present the war as over.

"As a result of a night attack, six policemen from Karelia were injured," the spokesman said. Karelia is a republic in the northwest of Russia, bordering Finland.

The attackers were not identified. The spokesman declined to say if police suspected rebels or criminals had launched the attack.

Sporadic fighting between Russian forces and rebels continues, although it is mainly confined to the mountainous southern areas of Chechnya.

Source: Reuters; April 19, 2007

ArabeLLa

Excuse me, why here's no any new news? We should make a change... News from Grozny will be reported here in the nearest future

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Знаю, что всё суета кроме Аллаха...

justin

GROZNY, Russia (Reuters) - Female civil servants must wear Islamic headscarves or be fired, the maverick head of Russia's Chechnya region said on Tuesday, an edict that may put him at odds with his secular masters in Moscow.

The Kremlin installed 30-year-old Ramzan Kadyrov as Chechnya's president to crush a decade-old separatist insurgency, but some observers say he has turned the region into a private fiefdom where Russian laws are flouted.

Russian law separates the state from religion and gives both sexes equal rights. But Kadyrov, who this year made a pilgrimage to Muslim holy sites in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia, said Chechnya had different traditions.

"I know everyone will say, 'Ramzan declares (rigid Islamic) sharia law'. But I reply that I am a Muslim, I respect Chechen traditions, and I am proud of this," Kadyrov, son of a Muslim cleric, told a meeting of local officials.

"I repeat once again -- women must either wear headscarves, or they should not work (for state institutions)," he said. "You may say I make unlawful statements, but I will not back down."

Kadyrov said he had been "literally shocked seeing our young women walking around in T-shirts and miniskirts in our city (Chechen capital Grozny)".

A keen amateur boxer who kept a lion as a pet, Kadyrov said women were the root of all crime committed in Chechnya because they were inviting men to have sex with them.

Families often declare blood feuds on men they believed have dishonoured their daughters, and in some cases they also kill their daughter for bringing shame on the family. "This only complicates the work of the police," Kadyrov said.

Kadyrov's hardline policies and the cult of personality he has built around himself make many Russian officials uneasy, but they are unlikely to take any action against him.

Samian

"Kadyrov said women were the root of all crime committed in Chechnya because they were inviting men to have sex with them."

I bet all the Chechen women on Amina.com *officially* hate Kadyrov now ))