Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, October 14
Chechen human rights defender Sulumbek Tashtamirov, who went on a hunger strike on September 24 in Ingushetia and continued his protest in Moscow, was hospitalized in the Russian capital due to health problems.
Tuesday, October 15
Chechen commander Shamil Basayev in an interview published by Kavkaz.org welcomed recent efforts aimed at establishing peace in Chechnya but stressed that peace must not be reached "at any price". Basayev also blamed Chechen Vice-Premier and Aslan Maskhadov's envoy Akhmed Zakayev for undermining the unity of the Chechen resistance.
Representatives of the Chechen and Ingush governments agreed during their meeting in the Ingush capital of Magas that refugee camps in Ingushetia have to be closed down by the end of the year.
Wednesday, October 16
The European Commission announced that it had earmarked another 20.5 million euro to cover the most urgent needs of the population affected by the conflict in Chechnya.
Thursday, October 17
An MI-8 military helicopter of the Russian Interior Ministry forces crashed down near the Stepnoye village in the Gudermes district. Chechen fighters claimed they had shot it down, while Russian investigators later claimed the helicopter hit a power line.
Heads of the Russian and Georgian Border Guards, Konstantin Totski and Valeri Chkheidze, signed in the Armenian capital of Yerevan an agreement on measures aimed at boosting control over the Russian-Georgian border.
Friday, October 18
No major events.
Saturday, October 19
The Russian presidential press service announced that President Vladimir Putin signed a decree according to which Colonel-General Vladimir Moltenskoi was replaced by Lieutenant-General Sergei Makarov as commander of Russia's Unified Military Group in the Northern Caucasus. Moltenskoi was appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Russia's Ground Forces.
Sunday, October 20
Valeri Chkheidze, head of the Georgian Border Guard Department explained that the Georgian and Russian board guards will not conduct joint patrolling of troublesome parts of the Georgian-Russian border but will stay on their respective territories and exchange information only.
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