Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, May 20
There are about 100 Arab mercenaries and 800 Chechen fighters in the Pankisi gorge in Georgia, who keep crossing the Russian-Georgian border in both directions, Georgian National Security Minister Valery Khabordzaniya told journalists.
Tuesday, May 21
Movsar Said-Aliyevich Khamidov, who earlier worked at the headquarters of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), has been appointed vice-premier of Chechnya's pro-Moscow government and charged to liaise with power structures operating in Chechnya. Khamidov replaced Yuri Em, who left the office in October 2001.
A court in Pyatigorsk sentenced three Chechen teenagers, namely Jambek Jamaldinov (16), Artur Magomadov (17), and Usman Rasayev (17) to 5-8 years in juvenile prison for attacking in July 2001 a vehicle with Chechen policemen and heavily wounding three of them.
Wednesday, May 22
A committee for property issues of the government of the Chechen Republic has been set up in Chechnya. -- Strana.ru
Thursday, May 23
Alexandr Cherkasov of Russian human rights organisation Memorial said that the situation concerning torture in Chechnya is now much worse than in 1996 when Russia submitted its previous report to the UN Committee against Torture. Cherkasov also accused Russian representatives of lying to the Committee in five of ten questions concerning Chechnya.
Friday, May 24
During his three-day visit to Russia US President George Bush said that Russian forces could learn a lesson from the way the United States and its allies are conducting their anti-terror operations in Afghanistan. The war against terrorism "can only be won by simultaneously protecting the rights of the population, particularly ethnic minorities," Bush said.
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.
