Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Chechen fighters to get in touch with federal authorities in 72 hours and launch talks on a handover of their weapons and intergration into a peaceful life. Putin appointed his plenipotentiary in the Southern Federal District Viktor Kazantsev to organise the process. Putin’s appeal was interpreted as a proposal for a political resolution of the Russian-Chechen conflict.
Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov ordered that all his subordinates immediatelly suspend all contacts on all levels with the Council of Europe, which in his opinion acts against the interests of the Chechen nation.
Tuesday, September 25
In response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s appeal on Chechen fighters to launch talks on handover of their weapons, Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov appointed Akhmed Zakaye to get in touch with Putin’s deputy Viktor Kazantsev and launch talks on political resolution of the Russian-Chechen conflict.
Wednesday, September 26
US President George Bush said that „we [the USA] do believe there are some al Qaeda folks in Chechnya … but I would hope that the Russian President, while dealing with the al Qaeda organization, also respects minority rights within his country.“ White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that „the Chechnya leadership, like all responsible political leaders in the world, must immediately and unconditionally cut all contacts with international terrorist groups, such as Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda organization.“
Thursday, September 27
Walter Schwimmer, chaiman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe said that in Chechnya „there has clearly been some progress … but many problems concerning the protection of human rights in the Chechen Republic still persist“, thus reflecting PACE’s view on the conflict in Chechnya.
Friday, September 28
Maskhadov’s representative to talks with Russia, Akhmed Zakayev, made a phone call with Viktor Kazantsev, arranging their first meeting, possibly in Nazran in the upcoming days.
Saturday, September 29
Maskhadov’s representative to talks with Russia, Akhmed Zakayev, sent an open letter to Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze asking him to take part in possible talks between the Russian and Chechen side on a peaceful resolution of the Russian-Chechen war.
Chechen fitghters carried out a series of attacks on various Chechen towns and villages, including Argun, Kurchaloy, Shali.
Sunday, September 30
Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze agreed to take part in possible talks between the Russian and Chechen side on a peaceful resolution of the Russian-Chechen war.
Chechnya’s prosecutor Vsevolod Chernov, who was appointed by the Kremlin, said that in 2001 the republic’s prosecution instituted a total of 103 criminal proceedings concerning crimes committeed by Russian soldiers in Chechnya, including crimes against civilians, and that 32 cases involving 43 people had been sent to military courts. – Interfax
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