Summary of the main news related to the conflict in Chechnya. Compiled by Prague Watchdog.
Monday, June 17
No major events.
Tuesday, June 18
Sergey Nazarov, military prosecutor in the process with Russian colonel Yuri Budanov, proposed to drop the charges of murder against Budanov, referring to a psychological expert's opinion published on May 14, 2002, according to which Budanov was not in control of his actions when he kidnapped, raped, and then killed 18-year-old Chechen girl Elza Kungayeva in late March 2000. Nazarov proposed that Budanov should get a three-year sentence on charges of abuse of his powers but be amnestied immediately under a recent presidential decree.
Radio Svoboda reported that heavy fighting took place in Vedeno, southern Chechnya between a group of some 40 Chechen fighters and the Russian military, which used the artillery and aircraft.
Wednesday, June 19
The office of the pro-Moscow Chechen Prosecutor has launched legal proceedings against Russian servicemen suspected of breaching the law in the recent three-week special operation in the village of Mesker Yurt, said Movsar Khamidov, the minister in the pro-Moscow Chechen government who is responsible for the co-operation with law-enforcement agencies.
Thursday, June 20
Heavy rains, which in the southern, mountainous parts of Chechnya started some two weeks ago, triggered large-scale floods and caused huge material damage, especially in the Itum-Kale district. Floods were then reported also from other parts of Chechnya.
Fourteen Chechen fighters have been killed and over 20 persons detained on suspision of belonging to the guerillas during the recent special operation in the Chechen-Aul village, General Moltenskoi announced.
Friday, June 21
In an article published in "The Washington Post", Zbigniew Brzezinski, Alexander Haig, and Max Kampelman proposed a plan to end the conflict in Chechnya, according to which Chechens should acknowledge the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation and Russians would in turn acknowledge their right to national, but not political self-determination.
Saturday, June 22
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov that the Russian military deployed in Chechnya use "all powers and means" to help civilians in the republic to fight and remove the consequences of floods.
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