One year after the referendum – an opinion poll in ChechnyaRuslan Isayev, North Caucasus – The war in Chechnya, with only a brief interval, has been ongoing for ten years. And it has brought about many changes and challenges into the lives of ordinary Chechens.
In Chechnya, it's the average man who bears the brunt of the misery surrounding him along with the disdain of the politicians. Before March 14, Russian presidential election day, the government needed the people. Yet even then, when the support of the people was so urgently needed, they used derogatory expressions like, “a biological unit,” or “the electorate mass,” to describe them.
On March 23, it was exactly one year since the referendum for a new Constitution of the Chechen Republic was accepted. During the year, three major events took place: the referendum and Chechen and Russian presidential elections .
What changes have taken place in your life during this year, and what do you expect in the future? Prague Watchdog’s correspondent asked this of Chechen citizens and the following were their responses.
Sharip Darayev, 48, unemployed in Grozny
The situation has only just slightly improved; at least now it’s easier to move about the republic. Soldiers don’t harass us as much as they used to and they don’t take such huge bribes anymore either. It seems to me that conditions have somewhat stabilized. But the one thing that really disturbs me is that on the streets one now sees many Chechens in army uniforms and carrying weapons. But what’s changed for me personally? Well, they repaired my apartment, although I’m not pleased with the quality of the work. However, there are rumors that a lot of money has been siphoned off while pretending it was spent on repairing houses. I don’t expect anything good to happen in the immediate future. Nevertheless, I’m sure that eventually there will be peace and serenity in our country.
Zulpa Khadzhiyeva, 46, saleswoman in a Grozny market
People have more money now than they had in earlier years; they apparently received compensations from Moscow, which has helped improve my business. Although they wear better clothes, very few buy furniture. And that in itself tells a lot. People are still fearful that war will break out again. And this fear has never left us and probably never will. I don’t believe that my peers and I will ever experience a better life. Many people have returned to Chechnya but that doesn’t prove the situation at home has improved. They probably came back because they had no other choice.
Zaurbek Chadayev, 35, taxi driver from the village of Shalazhi
I don’t care about politics, and I don’t know whether things have changed for the better or worse. At least now its easier for me to drive than it was a year or two ago. I don’t like Grozny because crime is on the increase. So I go home directly after work as I’m afraid to stay somewhere overnight. I’ve heard of cases where cars and drivers simply disappeared. And this can happen any time in Chechnya. It’s possible to live fairly normally here, but in order to survive you have to stay alert and watch your back. It’s impossible to live with dignity in this country.
Umalat Beterbiyev, 27, construction worker at the Khankala military base
I work in construction because there’s nothing else to do and I’ve got nothing better to do anyway. So I have to work for the occupiers. I earn about 9,000 rubles doing plastering jobs, which is not enough for such work. I’ve been at it for three years and am still working; the only good thing about that is that my salary is paid on time. Without that Chechens wouldn’t keep doing it as who would bother exerting themselves for them. And as far as my life having improved, I’m happy and satisfied that I don’t have any debts and no one is hounding me. As for the future of Chechnya, I think it looks rather chaotic, which is why my family and I are going to emigrate to Europe.
Eleonora Khizriyeva, 20, college student
There is nothing more important for me now than my studies. But as a Chechen citizen, I worry about my country as I don’t think many positive changes will take place. How can you say things have improved when armed assailants kidnap students in broad daylight and then are never heard from again? People have become very malicious. When someone breaks into your house at night to steal or kill and you call for help, no one comes to your aid. Do you call this an improvement? It’s like it was back in 1937, under Stalin. As for the future, I think that those people who walk around with guns have no future. Perhaps other politicians, honest ones, will one day appear on the scene, ready to lead the people and will abolish war from Chechnya.
Imran Sakalov, 57, college teacher
The situation in this country has gotten worse. My nerves can’t stand it anymore. I hate ill-mannered boors, villains, upstarts and ignorant people, and the country is over-run with them. And I won't comment on the leaders of the country - the situation is clear to everybody... It’s unfortunate that so many young boys from both sides of the conflict had to die. And for what? People are illiterate, so they go to their deaths willingly; and this doesn’t seem to bother government officials. The deeper we get into conflict, the harder it will be to get out of it. Chechens will not soon forgive the spilled blood. This is what we can expect for the future.
Zaindi Dugzaev, 32, a policeman in Grozny, amnestied guerrilla fighter
For me, life has become worse. The number of victims has not changed. According to reports from the Ministry of Interior, murders and kidnappings happen almost daily. I don’t understand how we’re still able to remain human. Every authority, be they the police, FSB or Kadyrov’s security forces, pretend they have nothing to with it. There are such undercurrents in Chechen politics, such horrors no one can imagine, not even in their wildest dreams. I don’t wish a life such as Chechens are living to anybody. I expect nothing good from the future; and I walk around as if I were under a sentence of death. Whatever illusions I once had are gone, and many people feel the same way. I think the Russian government should strive for more peaceful relations with Chechens. For if that would happen, there could be some order in Chechnya again. But if this continues the way its going, soon there won’t be any order at all. Then again, the powers-that-be may be doing this on purpose; it’s easier to steal when situations are chaotic.
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