The Week in Brief: December 30, 2002 - January 5, 2003
Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, December 30
No major events.
Tuesday, December 31
The military court in Rostov-on-Don declared Russian Colonel Yuri Budanov criminally not responsible for the murder of Chechen girl Elza Kungayeva in March 2000 because according to a final expertise Budanov was temporarily insane at the moment of his deed. At the same time the court ordered Budanov to undergo a psychiatric treatment.
The mandate of the OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya expired after talks in Vienna between OSCE and Russia on the prolongation of the mandate failed. Russia said that it would continue its cooperation with OSCE in another form after its proposals to change the Assistance Group's activities into humanitarian ones had been turned down. On the first days of 2003, several European states, the USA, Council of Europe Secretary General and Human Rights Watch called for the prolongation of the mandate.
Wednesday, January 1
No major events.
Thursday, January 2
No major events.
Friday, January 3
Baudi Dudayev was dismissed from the post of chairman of the Independent Consultation Council of Civic Organizations due to work overload. Luiza Khasanova, Zarman Makhadziyeva and Murat Nashkhoyev was elected co-chairpersons of the council, Chechen news agency Chechenpress.com reported.
Saturday, January 4
No major events.
Sunday, January 5
According to the latest figures, a total of 72 people died as a result of a bomb attack on the building of the Moscow-backed Chechen government in Grozny on December 27, Premier Mikhail Babich said adding that 48 people died on the spot.
Former head of the OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya Jorma Inki said that the referendum on a draft Chechen constitution, which is scheduled for March 2003, would be premature in the current situation.
The views expressed on this web site are the authors' own, and don't necessarily reflect the views of Prague Watchdog, which aims to present a wide spectrum of opinion and analysis relating to events in the North Caucasus.
