Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, August 26
Secretary of Chechnya's Moscow-backed Security Council Rudnik Dudayev confirmed that top Chechen commander Aslanbek Abdulkhajiyev, nicknamed "Big Aslanbek", had been killed in a clash during a special operation carried out by Russian Interior Ministry Forces and other federal force structures in Shali.
Russian human rights commissioner Oleg Mironov and the president of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmila Alexeyeva expressed their concerns about the terrible situation in Chechen refugee camps in Ingushetia and condemned the behaviour of Russian servicemen in Chechnya. At the same time they said that the conflict in Chechnya can only be solved through a dialogue - but not with Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov, who in their view does not represent the interests of the majority of Chechens.
The Georgian parliament called on President Eduard Shevardnadze to make moves leading to the withdrawal of Georgia from the Commonwealth of Independent States but Shevardnadze said he is against such course of action.
Tuesday, August 27
The death toll of the August 19 crash of Russian military transport helicopter Mi-26 near Khankala, which was shot down by Chechen fighters, rose to 118.
Wednesday, August 28
The United States called on Russia to show patience with Georgia's operation against suspected international terrorists and Chechen fighters in the Pankisi gorge and asked it to cooperate with Georgia in tightening border security.
Thursday, August 29
The EU Presidency said on behalf of the EU that it is seriously concerned at the confirmation by OSCE border monitors of violations of Georgian airspace by military aircraft, and by reports of the bombing of villages in northern Georgia on August 22-23, resulting in civilian casualties.
Friday, August 30
Former speaker of the Russian State Duma Ruslan Khasbulatov, former Secretary of the Russian Security Council Ivan Rybkin and deputies to the Russian State Duma Aslambek Aslakhanov and Yuri Shchekochikhin announced at a news conference in Moscow their joint proposal to achieve peace in Chechnya, following their closed meeting with Akhmed Zakayev in the duchy of Liechtenstein in the middle of August. According to their proposal, Chechnya should be part of the Russian Federation but get a special status and preserve the right to self-determination. The politicans called on both sides of the conflict to stop fighting and start peace talks immediately. Their proposals should be brought to President Putin.
Eliza Musayeva, the head of Memorial's office in Nazran, received in the Norweigan capital of Oslo A.D. Sakharov's Freedom Award by Norwegian A.D. Sakharov's fund for her contribution to the protection of human rights.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov officially confirmed that Russian military transport helicopter Mi-26 which on August 19 crashed near Khankala was shot down by an earth-to-air rocket.
Saturday, August 31
Chechen fighters shot down Russian military helicopter Mi-24 in the Nozhai-Yurt district. Both pilots died.
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