Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, July 15
No major events.
Tuesday, July 16
Several dozen Chechen women blocked the federal motorway Kavkaz linking Grozny and Ingushetia to demand the release of five men detained on the previous day by the Russian military in a "mopping-up" operation in the villages of Sernovodsk and Assinovskaya after Chechen figthers killed two pro-Russian Chechen policemen in the Achkoi-Martan district. The women were blocking the highway for three consecutive days.
The people of Chechnya will vote in a referendum on a draft of Chechnya's new constitution in November, the press service of the pro-Moscow administration told journalists. The draft, which is based on the proposal of the head of Chechnya's pro-Moscow administration Akhmad Kadyrov, provides that the republic is part of the Russian Federation, bears the name of „Chechnya“, and has two official languages, Russian and Chechen.
Wednesday, July 17
Exiled former Lieutenant Colonel of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexandr Litvinenko told Russian radio station Ekho Moskvy that he had managed to get in touch with and get "serious information" from Achimez Gochiyayev, who is considered by FSB as the main suspect in thus far unexplained apartment bombings in Moscow and Volgodonsk in September 1999.
Thursday, July 18
The Prosecutor's Office of the town of Urus-Martan launched criminal proceedings for intentional destruction of some twenty houses caused by the explosion of four bombs dropped by one of a pair of Russian military helicopters during a combat mission in the Alkhazurovo village on July 16.
Abdul-Khakim Sultygov, a pro-Moscow Chechen who was appointed to the post of Russian President Vladimir Putin's representative for human rights in Chechnya, described the situation of human rights in the republic as "absolutely unacceptable" and said "there is chaos there right now, no-one knows who is arresting people and where they are being taken." Sultygov said that he would set up new rules for conducting ill-famed "mopping-up" operations by the Russian military. Sultygov also said that the Constitution of the Russian Federation would be translated into Chechen soon.
An unknown masked man shot dead from a pistol with a silencer three Chechen civilians and heavily injured another two near tent refugee camps Bela and Alina in the vicinity of the settlement of Ordzonikidzevskaya in Ingushetia, according to a press release made by the Chechen Committee of National Salvation on July 19. -- Chechenpress.
Friday, July 19
After the first day of his two-day talks in Sochi with French President Jacques Chirac, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia should gradually give up "mopping-up" operations, during which human rights violations occur, and hand over responsibility to Chechen police forces. Chirac said that terrorist acts cannot be justified by any reason and expressed support to Russia's territorial integrity.
The press department of the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that the FSB had asked its British counterparts to carry out an interrogation of exiled former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko, who said that he had received from Achamez Gochiyayev serious information about thus far unexplained apartment bombings in Moscow and Volgodonsk in 1999. Gochiyayev is wanted by Russian authorities for alleged involvement in the bombings.
Saturday, July 20
Two Chechen fighters accused of banditry, terrorism and robberies escaped from a temporary detention centre in the Zavodskoi district of Grozny, pro-Moscow Chechen interior forces announced (on July 23). Three Chechen policemen who were on duty at the critical moment were investigated in connection with the escape. -- Nezavisimaya gazeta
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