Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, September 2
Akhmad Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya's Moscow-backed administration, said that elections in the republic should take place only after the "anti-terrorist operation" is completed and full stabilisation achieved. Therefore it will take at least two years before the elections can be held, Kadyrov said.
Tuesday, September 3
A mine explosion claimed the lives of seven members of the Moscow-backed Chechen police in the town of Shali. Referring to the results of investigation, Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Sergei Fridinski on September 5 refused the allegations according to which the explosion was caused by Russian mortar shelling.
Wednesday, September 4
Members of the Joint Working Group on Chechnya of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and Russia's State Duma completed their two-day visit to Chechnya. The group's co-chairman Lord Judd stated in Grozny that changes for the better were evident and that he was told by Chechens who returned from Ingushetia that the repatration was not forced and that they do not want to return to Ingush tent camps.
Doctor Ali Khanbiyev, brother of Ichkerian Health Minister Umar Khanbiyev, was kidnapped by masked armed men in the village of Benoi of the Nozhai-Yurt district in the night to September 4.
Thursday, September 5
The delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which visited Chechnya on Sept 3-4, appreciated at a news conference in Moscow the apparent progress in Chechnya, especially that in reconstruction. At the same time the delegation condemned mopping-up operations and "disappearences" and called again for a politicial solution to the conflict.
The Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry had denied Kristina Szatori, a Hungarian journalist covering the first Russian-Chechen war (1994-96), a Russian visa which she needed for covering the visit of German President Johannes Rau to Russia on September 2-5 in line with her contract with German television ZDF.
Friday, September 6
Chechens celebrated a national holiday, marking the 11th anniversary of the restoration of state independence of the Chechen nation as declared by the first Chechen President Jokhar Dudayev. Supporters of Aslan Maskhadov held a small rally in Chechen capital Grozny. Anti-war rallies took place in several European towns.
A huge number of people watched festivities and took part in a rally in Chechnya's second largest town Gudermes, marking the Day of the Republic and National Unity, which was two days ago declared by the head of Chechnya's Moscow-backed administration Akhmad Kadyrov.
A mass grave with bodies of 15 Chechens who had been detained by Russian forces in May 2002 and then "disappeared" was found at the border of Ingushetia's Malgobekski and Sunzhenski districts and Chechnya's Nadterechni district, according to a report of human rights centre Memorial.
Saturday, September 7
No major events.
Sunday, September 8
Unknown persons shot at the convoy of the Mayor of Grozny Oleg Zhidkov near Russian military check-point Kavkaz-1, injuring the driver of the first vehicle of the convoy. Zhidkov was not wounded.
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