Chechnya receives only 26 Mln out of intended 14 Bln roubles to restore housing

MOSCOW, November 21 (RIA Novosti) - According to the Russian Audit Chamber, only a small part of means allocated by Moscow to restore destroyed houses in Chechnya has reached the republic. Out of the 14 billion rubles (29.8 rubles equals 1 USD-Ed.) planned for 2003, only 350 million was allocated in January-September and only 26 million reached Chechnya. Head of the Russian Audit Chamber Sergei Stepashin announced these figures at the Chamber's session on Friday. The session discussed the results of inspection of using state means allocated for Chechnya over the nine months of 2003 to restore its social sphere and economy.

This is "one of the soft spots" discovered during the inspections, Stepashin pointed out.

The check was carried out by the Chamber's special inspection set up on Russian President Vladimir Putin's recommendation for "permanent monitoring" of use of money in Chechnya, he said.

Stepashin has already briefed the President on the results and he has given "necessary instructions" to Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, the chairman added.

RBC, 21 November 2003

Paying off Chechen compensations might take 5 years

It might take some 5 to 6 years to pay off compensations for ruined houses and lost property in Chechnya, Sergey Ryabukhin, an auditor of the Russian Audit Chamber, told journalists today. He mentioned that the process of paying compensations had started in late September 2003. According to the Audit Chamber, some 14bn rubles ($470m) in compensations are to be paid to 40,000 families.

Friday, 21 November 2003

Appeal to the Military Men of the Russian Army and Special Services

Since it is not logical to address to the Russian military men throughthe Chechenpress, I have sent the appeal to some Russian mass media,most “free” ones, but they did not dare publish it. So, I had no choicebut to publish the appeal through your agency. It cannot be doubted thatsoon others will ask you for help.

Truly yours,

Alexander Litvinenko.

On 13 November, London Court announced the decision on case “RussianFederation against Akhmed Zakayev”, which, by right, should beconsidered the first legal document in the history of Russian-Chechenrelationship. For many centuries, the Russians and Chechens killed eachother under the propagandistic slogans advanced by the politicians, whoalways made a good use of the sufferings and blood of people to achievetheir goals and satisfy their political ambitions.

Now we have a juridical definition having a direct bearing not only onthe Chechens, but also on every Russian serviceman, who has taken partin the last two Chechen wars. It is determined in the document thatso-called counter-terrorist operation carried out by the Russian armyand special services on the territory of the Chechen Republic, isnothing but WAR with all the ensuing consequences. And if it is a war,there is direct evidence of aggression on the part of one of theparties. If there are tortures, very soon there will appear the warcriminals who tortured those people. And I call on all of them: think ofyour families, do not become the war criminals and aggressors. Rememberthat in modern world anyone who commits crimes against humanity, anyonewho has become a war criminal, will always be pursued everywhere.

I appeal to the generals: Do not give criminal orders and keep yourpeople from using violence against the civilians. Remember that Putin’sregime will be brought to the end, and do not admit to share thedisgraceful fate of Milosevic and his generals.

I appeal to the officers: Do not execute criminal orders, do not takepart in retaliatory actions against the civilians, in so-called“zachistka” operations, do not become monsters of cruelty like colonelBudanov.

I appeal to the sergeants and soldiers: Refuse to take part in thisdisgraceful war. Remember that the sacred idea of defending one’sFatherland and fulfillment of soldier’s duty has nothing in common withthis dirty war.

I appeal to the mothers and wives of the military men: You should knowthat seeing off your sons and husbands to fight war in Chechnya, you aresending them to HELL, where it becomes more and more difficult for themto survive and return home safe and sound.

Citizens of Russia, do not trust to the false allegations of theKremlin’s politicians about our complete victory in Chechnya. TheRussian army has not got the slightest chance to win this unfair war asthe Chechens would not have had a chance to gain victory if they hadattacked our mother country. The resistance of the Chechen people growsevery day adequately to the atrocities committed by the mean mercenariesagainst their families, their people. Our country carries out thegenocide and aggression against the not numerous nation, and it is ourduty to do everything in our power to stop the violence and destructionof innocent people as soon as possible.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Litvinenko, Military Service Veteran

November 20th 2003 · Prague Watchdog

Head of Maigov's election staff abducted, then freed

Ruslan Isayev, North Caucasus - Ibragim Umarkhadzhiyev, head of SalambekMaigov's election staff, who was kidnapped Wednesday in Grozny, has beenfreed, as told by Maigov's staff to Prague Watchdog's correspondent.

After two hours in captivity, Umarkhadziyev was releasedunconditionally. No details of the abduction were available other thanthe assailants were armed and belonged to one of the Chechen securityforces, and he was not subjected to any brutality. It is also not knownwhere he had been held captive.

Maigov, who is a candidate in the Russian parliamentary electionsscheduled for December 7, considers the incident an attempt to exertpressure on him and his supporters.

Maigov said that he knows who organized the kidnapping, alleging it wasa rival candidate. Although he knows him personally, he refused todisclose his name.

"This provocation is but one element of the general policy of somecandidates who, because they lack the nation’s support, are now tryingto create problems ... I don't want Chechnya, which needs peace andconsensus, to become a land of lawlessness," said Maigov.

He stated he was not going to withdraw his candidacy as Chechnya'sdeputy to the Russian State Duma. According to his own words, he intendsto fight till the end - and win the election. And neither he nor hissupporters doubt his victory.

In February Aslan Maskhadov, President of the Chechen Republic ofIchkeria, appointed Maigov his envoy to Russia. In August Maigov quitthe post due to the Kremlin's unwillingness to hold genuine talks withthe Chechen resistance movement as well as due to Maskhadov's criticismof his work. Then he announced he would become the Chechen Republic’sdeputy to the State Duma of the Russian Federation. An action whichMaskhadov severely criticized.

Chechenpress.