Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, December 16
Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Ruslan Tsakayev to the post of Interior Minister of the Chechen Republic. Since 1997 Tsakayev has worked at the office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation.
Russian Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov appointed Vladimir Kravchenko to the post of Prosecutor of the Chechen Republic.
According to a new expertise of the psychological and psychiatrical state of Russian Colonel Yuri Budanov, which was read at the military court in South Russian town of Roston-on-Don, Budanov was temporarity insane when he killed 18-year-old Chechen girl Elza Kungayeva in late March 2000. The court order the new expertise, which is crucial for Budanov's sentence in early July 2002.
Tuesday, December 17
The draft of the Constitution of the Chechen Republic was made public at the website of the Moscow-backed Chechen administration and government (www.chechnya.gov.ru).
Wednesday, December 18
Russian President Putin dismissed Lieutenant-General Gennadi Troshev from the post of commander of the North Caucasus Military District, replacing him with Vladimir Boldyrev, the commander of the Siberian Military District, after Troshev told on journalists on Tuesday that he rejected Russian Defence Minister's offer to swap his post with Boldyrev.
Unknown persons killed the head of the administration of the Tsotsan-yurt in the Kurchaloyevski district Imran Khusiyev, including his two body guards. Khusiyev became the fourth head of the Tsotsan-yurt administration who was murdered.
Vicepremier of the Moscow-backed Chechen government Ali Alavdinov, who was in charge of agriculture and industry, was removed from his post, and vicepremier Nasrudi Magomadov, who was in charge of construction, resigned.
Russia's State Duma deputies today passed a document in which they recommend President Vladimir Putin to consider the declaration of state of emergency in the territory of the Chechen Republic and to continue with the withdrawal of Russian troops from the republic.
Thursday, December 19
No major events.
Friday, December 20
First vicepremier of the Moscow-backed Chechen government and Minister of Industry, Transport and Communications Musa Doshukayev has been removed from his post, the government press service announced.
Saturday, December 21
A total of 159 criminal charges have been brought against Russian servicemen for their abuses committed against civilians since the beginning of the "anti-terrorist operation" in North Caucasus, and 46 of them, including six officers, have been sentenced to date, Russian presidential spokesman Sergei Yastrzembski said.
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