A Chechen refugee’s impressions of GroznyRuslan Isayev, Northern Caucasus – Chechen refugees in Ingushetia are understandably homesick these days----many have not seen their homeland in four years.
However, Viskhan Tsugayev, a refugee, decided to visit Chechnya for a few days. He is from Grozny and told me his impressions of the Chechen capitol.
”I hadn’t been home since 1999 and so was a little hesitant about returning, afraid they might arrest me for no valid reason. I was in Grozny four days, and the first thing I noticed was a great number of people, vehicles and soldiers (both Chechen and Russian). If you take away the Russian flags and soldiers, the scene resembles the situation after the first war----the same young men and vehicles armed with machine guns.
Reconstruction is taking place in several parts of Grozny. Buildings are under repair and some streets are being cleaned. But the work that’s been done barely amounts to 5 percent. For example, there’s a huge housing complex of multi-storied buildings of which all of them need a general overhaul; yet only two or three have been restored. And those buildings are painted in garish colours. Just try envisioning a bright gold facade standing amidst the surrounding ruins.
I also met Chechen fighters who wore no uniforms and were unarmed. So my impression of all this is it’s neither war nor peace. And this is Grozny today.“
(A/E) |
