AFP, Wednesday 08 October 2003,

Hundreds of civilian deaths at the hands of federal troops in Chechnya have been documented by a Russian rights group over the last couple of years.

First editions of the 542-page volume finally came off the press on Wednesday in preparation for the Frankfurt book fair.

The book is likely to be seen as a direct challenge to President Vladimir Putin.

Entitled People Live Here, a sign frequently posted by civilians over the rubble of buildings in the republic's capital Grozny, the publication will be sold to the public at the German book fair from Sunday.

It covers abuses corroborated with witness accounts in Chechnya from July to December 2000 - a period in which Russia's main push into the Caucasus republic was completed.

Answering Putin

Author and political commentator Viktor Shenderovich, who contributed the back-sleeve summary, said the work was in part provoked by Putin's comments over two years ago. 

Shenderovich was referring to the president's remarks during his October 2001 visit to Brussels, when a visibly agitated Russian leader brushed aside a reporter's question about rights abuses in Chechnya.   

Putin asked for names, and now he has them

"Whose rights are we abusing", Putin demanded. "Give me names, records, family names. We should be speaking the same language instead of using cliches," Putin then said.    As if in answer to the challenge, the volume documents the cases of 489 Chechens killed during the six-month stretch – giving names and details.

400 civilian victims

This includes 70 rebels who died in fighting, but the book's authors allege that most of the other 400 victims were civilians killed by federal troops.    It then lists the cases of hundreds of people abducted in the war and interviews with their families and other witnesses.

The authors said most of the abductions and killings had been officially confirmed by prosecutors, but for the large part never reported by the Russian media.    Not literature

"This is not a work of literature - this is a book that was dictated to us by the people of Chechnya," said one of the volumes co-authors Dmitry Grushkin.    "No on will ever be able to say anything more specific or tragic about Chechnya than this book," Grigory Yavlinsky, a presidential candidate and head of the liberal opposition Yabloko party, told reporters. The volume has a print run of 1020 copies, but its publishers expect to release a second batch of books by December.

Blasts in Jokhar, combats in Western and Southern Ichkeria

Chechen Commander (call sign «Asser») contacted Kavkaz Center over thephone and reported that this morning near the building of the republic’smilitary registration and enlistment office near Khankala a sabotagegroup of Chechen fighters blew up a BTR armored vehicle belonging to theaggressors. Two invaders were killed on the spot. One patrol policeofficer was seriously wounded.

Spokesman of the Headquarters of the Eastern Front of CRI Armed Forcesreported to Kavkaz Center that the other day on the road toVedeno-Belgatoi a mobile group of Chechen fighters attacked a militaryconvoy, which consisted of several armored vehicles and cargo vehicles.One armored vehicle was burned and several vehicles disabled afterChechen Armed Forces detonated a landmine and opened fire at the convoyfrom grenade launchers. According to the Chechen side, at least 9invaders were killed and wounded in that combat. No casualties of theChechen side were reported.

Meanwhile the sources of the Chechen Press reported that this morningnot too far from the village of Yandi-Kotar (Achkhoi-Martan District ofCRI) Chechen fighters of the Southwestern Direction attacked a convoy ofRussian invaders moving towards the village of Achkhoi-Martan. As aresult of the sudden attack by Resistance fighters, 1 Ural truck and 1BRDM reconnaissance vehicle were destroyed. The fighters opened firefrom grenade launchers and firearms. At least 6 invaders were killed.Chechen troops incurred no casualties and disappeared in the woodland, -the source reported.

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Russian invaders kidnapped a disabled person

Council of Non-Governmental Organizations of CRI (Chechen Republic ofIchkeria) reported that early in the morning on October 13 Russian powerstructures in the village of Alkhan-Yurt kidnapped a local residentMansur Ahayev, b. 1985. Ahayev has the first group of disability(several years ago he was blown up on a mine near the village and losthis leg). The cause of his kidnapping is unknown. The people say he hadnothing to do with the war operations in the Republic. His whereaboutsor his fate are still unknown.

Extrajudicial execution of Arshty resident

Press Center of Chechen Committee for National Rescue (CCNR) reportedthat on October 13, 2003, a dead body was discovered near the Caucasus(«Kavkaz») checkpoint located at the border between Chechnya andIngushetia. The body belonged to Alikhan Hatsiyev, 30, resident of thevillage of Arshty, Republic of Ingushetia.

The people say that Hatsiyev became a victim of extrajudicial executionperpetrated by the power structures of the Russian invaders. The causeof the severe punishment of Hatsiyev is still unknown.

Repression in Kadyrov's gang formations

In Chechnya head of Kadyrov's gang formations are resorting to repressions in order to retain those who refuse to take part in crimes against Chechen people.

Kavkaz Center’s sources from Chechnya reported that many Chechens, whowere deceived about their wages and dragged into Kadyrov’s gangformations, are refusing to carry out the orders of their ringleadersand are coming and confessing their guilt to the Commanders of theChechen Resistance.

Ringleaders of Kadyrov’s gang formations are trying to use severemeasures and are holding the youth in their gangs under the threat ofretaliation. Thus, the source, who wished to remain anonymous, reportedthat collaborators executed a young man from their ranks for refusal toparticipate in a murder of a Chechen family in the village of Tsa-Vedeno.

This information was also confirmed by one of the members of Kadyrov’sgang in the village of Galaity, Nozhai-Yurt District, who repented ofhis involvement in Kadyrov's gangs and who confessed his guilt to theCommanders of the Chechen Resistance.

Kavkaz-Center News

2003-10-16 18:23:11

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President Maskhadov's taped statement to Chechen human right groups

CHECHNYA, October 16, Caucasus Times - The Chechen non-governmental organizations have received Aslan Maskhadov's taped statement.

An audiocassette with the taped statement of Ichkeria President Aslan Maskhadov has been received today afternoon by Chechen human rights groups. Aslam Maskhadov says in his statement of the present situation in Chechnya. According to his opinion, the Kremlin in his pursuit to resolve the war conflict in Chechnya by means of armed forces turned out a fiasco.

"Russia has tried in Chechnya all possible variations of their policy. They have managed several staged campaigns like "referendums" "elections", but what it the difference it makes. The armed resistance of the Chechen people to Russian invaders and struggle for independence will go unabated, and we are not going to surrender and lay down arms as long as any Russian soldier remains in Chechnya.

As to Kadyrov having been elected by the president of Chechnya, the leader of separatists has stated: "Kadyrov" was picked out as president, because they in Russian believe him to be expedient for Kremlin. They are deeply wrong. He is a more expedient figure for us."

Mr. Maskhadov has called the Chechen non-governmental organizations for endurance "to not lose courage and to not yield to any possible provocation." As an example of such provocation he mentioned his special Moscow emissary Salambek Maigov's intention to run for the Russian State Duma seat, which was approved by several Chechen human rights organizations.

Ruslan Adayev, Caucasus Times, Chechnya

17.10.2003

More abductions in Chechnya

CHECHNYA, Grozny. On the night of 15 October, unidentified armed menwearing masks and military fatigues took away a young girl from thevillage of Roshni-Chu, in the Urus-Martanovsky region of Chechnya. Thegirl lived in the village together with her grandmother, Makka Yusupova.As reported by the SNO news center, the villagers are convinced that thegirl was abducted by Russian soldiers. The girl’s present fate andlocation are unknown.

Just the day before in the same village, Russian military forces,undertaking a so-called “addressed cleansing” operation, snatched localinhabitant Ruslan Amagov. The armed men rushed to the Amagov familyhouse at around 4 a.m. rousing the sleeping Ruslan, they took himoutside and went off in an unknown direction.At dawn on 14 October, Russian soldiers together with local forcesabducted a young girl of around 18. the surname of the abducted girl isapparently known. According to available information as supplied by SNO,the military forces have said they will release the girl if therelatives hand over her brother, a participant in military operations.