Summary of the main news related to the conflict in
Chechnya.
Monday, Jan 28
The Russian military launched a several-day "mopping-up" operation in Starye Atagi and Novye Atagi, during which gross human rights abuses occurred, eight or nine local Chechen policemen were detained, and head of the local administration Vakha Gadayev was beaten.
Sergei Yastrzhembsky, Russian President's spokesman on Chechnya, said that Russia would closely follow Radio Liberty's coverage of the conflict in Chechnya after "bias" in its earlier coverage of the conflict occurred. (However, the disputed North Caucasus service, which will start broadcasting also in the Chechen language on February 28, is part of the Prague-based Radio Free Europe, a sister organisation of Radio Liberty. - PW editors.)
Tuesday, Jan 29
Russian Foreign Ministry informed French Ambassador about Russia’s disapproval of the meeting between senior French Foreign Mininstry officials and French Education Minister with Chechen presidential envoy Akhmed Zakayev in Paris on Jan 25.
Wednesday, Jan 30
Beslan Gantamirov asked his superior, Russian President’s plenipotentiary in the Southern Federal Region Viktor Kazantsev, to release him from the post of a chief federal inspector in the region.
Thursday, Jan 31
Vladimir Kalamanov, Russian president's special representative for the protection of human rights in Chechnya, said charges were brought against Russian servicesman carrying out special operations in Argun, Tsotsin-Yurt and Bachi-Yurt. At the same time Kalamanov stressed that human rights violations are inevitable during the "anti-terrorist operation" in Chechnya.
Stanislav Ilyasov, Prime Minister of the pro-Moscow Chechen government, said local police forces started working in the Naurski and Nadterechny regions, replacing temporary police forces commanded by the Interior Ministry.
Friday, Feb 1
No major events.
Saturday, Feb 2
No major events.
Sunday, Feb 3
An Mi-24 helicopter of the Russian border guard got lost in Chechnya and searches have produced no result yet.
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.
