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RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 8, No. 224, Part I, 1 December 2004 Ingushetian parliament deputies appeal for underage girl's release. Four deputies to the Republic of Ingushetia parliament have appealed to Russian Deputy Prosecutor-General Nikolai Shepel and to human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin to take immediate measures to expedite the release from detention of 16-year-old Marina Korigova, ingushetiya.ru reported on 30 November. Korigova was taken into custody in Vladikavkaz on 3 November on suspicion of contacts with one of the Beslan hostage takers (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 and 22 November 2004). Those suspicions were based on the fact that Korigova had in her possession a mobile phone that the hostage taker called, but the parliament deputies point out that investigators have established that she was given the phone by an acquaintance only after the hostage taking. The deputies stress that according to Ingush tradition, an unmarried girl's reputation and good name are irrevocably compromised if she spends an extended period of time away from her parental home. LF 100 children killed by landmines From correspondents in Moscow December 2, 2004 MORE than 100 children have been killed and 600 others injured by landmines in Russia's breakaway republic of Chechnya in the past decade, according to the United Nations' Children's Fund (UNICEF). "Since 1994 through 2004, 717 children were injured by exploding mines in Chechnya, and 114 of them died," UNICEF spokeswoman Anna Chernyakhovskaya was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. "We believe landmine safety in Chechnya remains poor," she added. After the first armed conflict in Chechnya in 1994-1996, Moscow again poured troops into the rebellious republic in October 1999, quickly getting mired in a brutal guerilla standoff against various rebel warlords. AFP Deputy Mayor Shot Dead in Russia's Dagestan Created: 02.12.2004 11:03 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 11:03 MSK, MosNews The deputy mayor of Makhachkala, the capital of the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, was killed Wednesday night. 53-year-old Akhmed Batalov was in his car driving up to his house when several unidentified persons approached the car and shot him, ITAR-TASS news agency reported, citing Makhachkala police. Batalov died at the scene. He had seven bullet wounds. The prosecutor's office has instigated criminal proceedings in connection with the incident. The killers are still at large. This is the second murder of a Makhachkala deputy mayor in three years, the agency said. A senior official in charge of financial issues, Akhmed Aliyev, was killed on Jan. 21, 2002. The mayor himself, Said Amirov, has survived more than 10 assassination attempts, the agency reported. Dagestan is an internal Russian republic in the North Caucasus that neighbors Chechnya. It is a predominantly Muslim region. Massive Raids against Chechens in Turkey The Representatives of the Chechen Committee in Turkey informed the Kavkaz Center reporter on the massive raid in Istanbul against the Chechens temporary residing in this country. The informer reported that early in the morning on December 2, brigades of Turkish special units, armed up to their teeth broke in refugees' homes and arrested people without submitting any kind of identity cards. Rummages in apartments and houses of the Chechens were made in a pretty severe manner. Special units men were wearing masks that arouse the rumours among the Chechens, that there were Russian FSB people among the special units members. According to the informer, there were all in all from 10 to 20 persons detained. Information on the number of the detained is being updated. As the informer reports, the representatives of the Chechen Committee have already applied to the authorities for explanations of this anti-Chechen campaign. The authorities of Turkey have not till now provided the access to the detained persons, explaining that in accordance with the law on antiterrorist activity, the authorities have the right to keep the detained persons during four days without bringing a charge. For this reason, the Chechen Committee representatives consider the large-scaled detainments of the Chechens to have been performed as a part of preparing to Vladimir Putin´s visit to Turkey, which is planned for December 5-6. Evidently, they decided in Turkey to demonstrate like that their loyalty to Russia while expecting the guest from Moscow. Kavkaz Center 2004-12-03 00:41:58 Turkish Police Capture 12 Chechen Militants Ahead of Putin Visit Created: 03.12.2004 15:02 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 16:16 MSK, MosNews Turkish police have captured 12 armed Chechen militants in Istanbul just days before President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive there on a state visit. Two women were among the 12 insurgents, Agence France Presse reported, citing a source in the Turkish police force. The militants were carrying weapons and compact disks, which police confiscated. Moscow has repeatedly criticized Ankara for failing to do anything about Chechen separatists sheltering in Turkey, and the Turkish citizens that aid them. Putin is scheduled to arrive in Ankara on Sunday for an official visit. 12 people believed to be Chechens detained in Turkey ahead of Putin visit (AFP) 3 December 2004 ANKARA - Anti-terror police in Istanbul detained 12 people believed to be Chechen militants ahead of an official visit to Turkey Sunday and Monday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, police and media reports said. The spokesman in Ankara for the security department, Ramazan Er, confirmed that police detained 12 people in Istanbul in connection with the Putin visit and seized weapons, as well as computers and CDs. Er declined to elaborate, saying the investigation was still under way. Istanbul is not on Putin's itinerary. The NTV news channel said nine of the people detained in the operation, conducted jointly by anti-terror police and intelligence services, were Chechens, while the other three were Turkish nationals of Chechen descent. Two women were among the group, NTV said. The historic visit to Turkey by Putin is the first here by a Russian president in 32 years and is seen as confirmation of the hugely improved ties between the traditional foes since the end of the Cold War. Putin was originally scheduled to visit in September, but was forced to postpone because of a crisis in Beslan, Northern Ossetia, where Chechen militants occupied a grade school and took scores of children hostage. Russia has accused Ankara of turning a blind eye to the activities of Chechen separatists, who enjoy popular support in Turkey, home to large communities of Turkish-speaking nations from the Caucasus -- an accusation Turkey has categorically denied. Putin's visit will take place amid a massive security cordon, with more than 3,000 policemen mobilized to assure the Russian leader's safety in Ankara, according to media reports. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.vesti.ru/comments.html?id=32079 Chechen were preparing bombings in Istanbul by Anton Verstakov [passage omitted] The raid was conducted ahead of a visit of the president of Russia Vladimir Putin. A number of incriminating [nastorazhivayushchikh] documents have been withdrawn from the arrested persons. The case has been opened, investigation is going on - only then it will be possible to draw any official conclusions ", - stated the deputy head of police administration of Istanbul Ramazan Er. The press-secretary of the Istanbul police asserts, that according to the withdrawn documents, objects of a planned act of terrorism had to be the main tourist sights of Istanbul. [passage omitted - tr. by M.L.] Chechen NGOs protest Putin's visit to Turkey AFP: 12/4/2004 ISTANBUL, Dec 4 (AFP) - A number of Chechen solidarity groups in Turkey on Saturday spoke out against a two-day official visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin because of Moscow's policies in the breakaway republic of Chechnya, the Anatolia news agency reported. "One fourth of the population in Chechnya was massacred by Russians," Ali Yandir, the head of the Chechen Solidarity and Culture Association, told a press conference here. "We expect the Turkish government to ask Russia to end the occupation in Chechnya and disarm the region," he added. Turkey is home to large communities of Turkish-speaking nations from the Caucasus and there is considerable support in Turkey for Chechen separatists. Russia has often accused Turkey of turning a blind eye to the activities of Chechen militants, but Ankara categorically denies the accusation. Massive security measures will be in place for Putin's visit on Sunday and Monday, with more tha than 3,000 policemen mobilized to assure the Russian leader's safety in Ankara, according to media reports. Ahead of the visit, anti-terror police detained 12 people believed to be Chechen militants in Istanbul, which is not on Putin's itinerary. 12/04/2004 14:13 GMT - AFP Ingushetia Court Expels Japanese Journalist From Russia for Visa Violation Created: 02.12.2004 18:03 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 18:44 MSK, MosNews A court in the Ingush city of Nazran ruled Thursday to expel a Japanese journalist from Russia for violations of the visa regime in Russia. Kosuke Tsuneoka also had to pay a fine of 1,000 rubles (about $35.5), Russian Information Agency Novosti reported. Tsuneoka was arrested on Nov. 19 in Nazran. Although he had a business visa in his passport, he was preparing reports on the situation in the North Caucasus. The head of the Foreign Ministry press center, Georgy Vlaskin, was quoted by the agency as saying Tsuneoka had met several people, conducted interviews, and shot videos and photographs. The journalist said he was sent to Ingushetia by the Kyodo Tsushin news agency. The freelance journalist was often sent to various places of possible and real danger. In 2001, he was *kidnapped in Pankisi Gorge in Georgia which is reportedly a place where Chechen gunmen hide. Last year, he made reports from Baghdad. Chechenpress Release the captured woman! Appeal of the Chechen Human Rights Centre The United Nations Organization The Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe The International Red Cross Committee The High Commission for Refugees On 18 November 2004 , in the village of Stariye Ataghi , the armed people in camouflage captured the mother of three children Fatima Vakhaevna Pashaeyeva, born in 1954, in her home. The incident took place at about 9 o'clock in the evening. The criminals, about 20 people, arrived in four “EAZ” cars to the house of Fatima . They, being convinced of their impunity, were not in masks. According to the witnesses, some national traitors also took part in kidnapping. One cannot say for sure whether it s right or not, but, judging by the inquiry carried out by the criminals, Fatima was captured because of her son – Rivzan Pashayev. However, everyone knows in the village that her 26-year-old disabled son who has neither legs nor hands, does not live in Chechnya. One of the criminals asked Fatima : - Do you want to see your son? Fatima answered him: - I have not seen my son for two years. - Get dressed! We are going! We will show you your son! – there was a command of the criminals. Having heard this command, Fatima 's husband offered them to take him instead of the woman, but the criminals did not even answer him. So, Fatima was taken by the criminals. In the course of the inquiry, which lasted about half an hour, the visitors searched the house, of course, without producing any document. Later, it became clear that the criminals had taken away 50 thousand roubles wich Fatima had earned by purchase and sale goods in the cities of the Caucasus : Pyatigorsk, Maku, Nazran, Nalchik . To all appearances, the national traitors suspected her of assisting the units of the Chechen Resistance. Ten days have passed since that incident, and Fatima 's relatives hoped the criminals would content themselves with the stolen 50 thousand roubles and set free the woman, but in vain. Fatima 's relatives do not lose hope that she is alive. However, they are anxious about the incessant practice of kidnapping and capturing the relatives of the Chechen resistance fighters, although the international community and international human rights organizations condemned these lawless actions provoked by the Public Prosecutor General of RF. We appeal to all people who can do something for Fatima Pashayeva – help us to release her from the criminals! The Chechen Human Rights Centre Chechenpress, Department of Correspondences 03.12.04 http://www.chechenpress.info/english/news/2004/12/03/03.shtml News reports on terrorism to be censored in Russia 12/02/2004 11:59 Journalists will have to stick to certain regulations in their reports about terrorist acts   The Russian government may equate street meetings to terrorist acts. A paragraph about it is included in the draft law ?About the counteraction to terrorism,¦ which was submitted to the State Duma the day before yesterday. The draft law was developed by the Russian Federal Security Bureau.   The new law introduces a new term in the Russian legislation v ? the terrorist danger regime.¦ The term means that authorities will be empowered with restricting the pedestrian and the car traffic in the streets in case of a terrorist threat. In addition, special services will be entitled to tap telephones and ban massive street meetings. The draft law also stipulates that mass media outlets will not be allowed to conduct independent activities in the area of counter-terrorist operations. The terrorist danger regime can be put into effect for up to 60 days.   Having taken into consideration the hostage crisis experience in Moscow and Beslan, the authors of the law restricted mass media's opportunity to report details of a terrorist act. A chairman of the counter-terrorist headquarters will regulate the form and the amount of the information provided to media outlets at this point, the Kommersant newspaper wrote. Furthermore, accessing a special operation zone for journalists and reporters can be prohibited. If the press is allowed to report from the site of a special operation, it will not be possible for journalists to use candid cameras, take pictures and audio recordings without a special permission for that from the chairman of the special headquarters. To crown it all, the new draft law prohibits exposing the information about scenes or facts of extreme violence.   The new law has not evoked a universal approval in the Russian society, though. Experts stand against the media censorship as far as news reports about terrorist acts are concerned. However, they urge journalists not to assist terrorists with reports and publications. Oleg Khlobustov, a professor of the FSB Academy, said during a press conference that terrorists often used mass media to prepare new attacks.   ¦Media outlets often expose various characteristics of terrorists' bombs, for example. Furthermore, reporters may add something about a way to make the destructive effect more powerful. One may apply the following classification to all terrorists: they can be mentally unbalanced people, professionally trained guerrillas, or those who learn terrorism from TV, radio and newspapers,¦ Oleg Khlobustov said. A fourth of the terrorists can be referred to the last category.   The expert suggested the use of certain regulations, which journalists will have to stick to in their reports about acts of terrorism. ?In my opinion, terrorists' requirements and statements must not appear without adequate comments from the special services. Journalists are not supposed to interview hostages, especially children, when they experience a state of profound shock and stress. The live broadcasting of special operations is not supposed to take place either,¦ Khlobustov added.   Oleg Nechiporenko, the General Director of the national anti- criminal and the anti-terrorist foundation, said that the anti- terrorist struggle gave birth to a new weapon of mass destruction, which was aimed against the mind of the society: ?This weapon works on account of abundant information about terrorism in the media,¦ said he. Yegor Belous Pravda.Ru http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/88/351/14666_terrorism.html Chechen compensation commission official kidnapped Interfax. Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, 11:00 AM Moscow Time GROZNY. Dec 5 (Interfax) - An official of the commission for compensation payments in Chechnya has been abducted. Some 20 masked gunmen wearing camouflage uniforms stopped three cars outside Chechnya's village of Davydenko near the administrative border with Ingushetia in the earlier hours of Sunday, the Chechen Interior Ministry told Interfax. The gunmen ordered the seven people traveling in the cars to get out of the cars. After they examined the vehicles, they told the people to get into different cars, leaving in the direction of the Grozny district. The attackers stole 30,000 rubles and a cell-phone from the people, the Interior Ministry said. The gunmen freed six of them near the village of Sernovodsk in the republic's Sunzhen district. They took Yakub Gaisumov, the compensation commission official, hostage and took him in an unknown direction. The assailants have not been identified yet. A search operation is in progress, the Interior Ministry said http://www.moscowtimes.ru/doc/HotNews.html#64017 Chechenpress Urgent! Relatives of President A. Maskhadov have been taken hostages News have arrived from Chechnya that relatives of ChRI President A. Maskhadov have again been taken hostages on 4 December by Russian occupiers and their armed accomplices from the "Kadyrov men". Chechen sources report that the arrest was accompanied by beating and humiliation of the people, whose sole fault it is that they are relatives of the Ichkerian leader. At this hour it is only known that the hostages have been sent to the lair of the national traitors in the village of Hosi-Yurt. Their further fate is unknown. It is only clear that this isn't the first time the occupiers and their accomplices have seized relatives of Aslan Maskhadov; a similar criminal act was also committed during the days of the tragedy in the Ossetian city of Beslan. It can be stated that the proposal by the Attorney General of the RF, Ustinov, to "counter-seize hostages" continues to be carried out in Chechnya, although in this case the prefix "counter-" doesn't reflect the truth at all: These are revenge arrests and a crime of the occupiers and their toadies which isn't justified in any way. We'll inform our readers about the fate of the Chechen President's relatives when new informations arrive. Chechenpress, Department of Operational Information, 05.12.04 http://chechenpress.com/news/2004/12/06/08.shtml [Translation by M.L.] December 7th 2004 · Prague Watchdog Aslan Maskhadov's brothers and sister kidnapped Ruslan Isayev, North Caucasus - Several relatives of Aslan Maskhadov, President of the separatist Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, have been kidnapped in Chechnya in recent days. Along with his two brothers, Lecha and Lyoma, and a sister, other relatives were also abducted. Although the abduction was most likely carried out by Moscow-backed Chechen forces, local law enforcers insist they have no information about the kidnappers. This is not the first time that relatives of Chechen separatist leaders have been kidnapped. This practice has been gaining momentum since last year. In October, Russian Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov even proposed in Russia’s State Duma that "counter-abduction" of terrorists' relatives should be carried out as a means of fighting terrorism. (Moscow often labels Chechen separatists as terrorists.) Prague Watchdog contributed to this report. 7/12/2004 Chechnya / Conflicts and military actions, Power organs, Crime Police do not confirm abduction of Maskhadov's relatives Chechen law enforcement agencies have not confirmed reports that close relatives of Aslan Maskadov, president of the unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, were taken hostages. "It's just another canard spread by separatists to discredit present Chechen authorities. If they know so well when Maskhadov's relatives were taken hostages and where they were conveyed, why don't they mention their number, their names, and details of how it happened?" a Chechen police officer said to the Caucasian Knot correspondent. "We have no information about the alleged hostage-taking of Maskhadov's relatives. If people are abducted, their relatives put in applications about it. Then we institute criminal proceedings and take all necessary actions. We've received no applications from Maskhadov's relatives. As far as I know, many of them live in the Nadterechny district of Chechnya, and there's no claims against them," the officer said. Author: Sultan Abubakarov, CK correspondent Source: Caucasian Knot A disabled man captured in Duba-Yurt At about 5 o'clock on 3 December, a group of invaders captured a disabled man – Rasul Khamzatovich Mukayev (b. in 1979) in the village of Duba-Yurt , Shaly district of Chechnya. According to the relatives of the captured man, on 3 December at about 5 o'clock , a group of Russian chastisers (about 8-10 people) broke in Mukayev's home. The aggressors were in camouflage and masks . They spoke Russian . At the moment of attack the Mukayevs were at home – the head of the family Khamzat Mukayev, his wife Rosa and their two sons – Rasul and Rustam (b. in 1982). Having captured the elder brother, the aggressors put handcuffs on him and dragged him out of the house. Rasul Mukayev has epilepsy and because of complicated disease, it is hard to him to move and he does not even go out of house. Nothing is known about the reason of his detention. The family knows nothing about his whereabouts. 09.12.04 http://www.chechenpress.info/english/news/2004/12/09/11.shtml Three bodies found in Nadterechny District Three bodies of unidentified men with bullet wounds have been found in the Nadterechny district. According to the Russian sites referring to the source in puppet militia, the bodies were found a day before in the area of the Village Zebir-Yurt in the territory of the “Mineralny” state farm. The local inhabitants suppose that those three men were kidnapped and then killed by the invaders and their accomplices. 09.12.04 http://www.chechenpress.info/english/news/2004/12/09/13.shtml Dec 6 2004 12:12PM Three men found dead in Chechnya's Grozny district GROZNY. Dec 6 (Interfax) - Three men with bullet wounds were found dead in the Grozny district of Chechnya. Local residents found the bodies on the curb of a dirt road near the village of Zebir Yurt and the Mineralny state farm. Police said the men had bullet wounds in their heads and bodies, a Grozny district administration source told Interfax on Monday. The men's hands had been tied with wire. The bodies, which were taken to a local mosque, have not been identified yet. Bomb kills teenager, injures two adults in Chechnya 06,December,2004 CHECHNYA, December, 6, Caucasus Times, - In the early morning of December 5, an unidentified bomb explosion occurred in Vedeno district of the republic killing a teenager and injuring two adults, the regional Interior Ministry told Caucasus Times correspondent. The accident came in a mountainous village of Tevzen-Kala. The Interior Ministry said, a team of police detectives were investigating at the scene. "The blast was quite powerful. The bomb killed a 14-year-old boy. Besides, a local man Suleymanov and his spouse suffered severe shrapnel injuries. They have been transported to Groznyy hospital in serious condition. We have not yet established what caused the explosion and what type of the bomb it was. At the moment the police experts are collecting evidence at the site," a police officer was quoted as saying. Criminal case is opened, under investigation, the officer added. Ruslanbek Dudayev, Caucasus Times, Groznyy http://www.caucasustimes.com/article.asp?id=4974 December 6th 2004 · Prague Watchdog Residents in Grozny's TACs complain of overcrowding and other inequities Timur Aliyev, North Caucasus – Former refugees from tented camps in Ingushetia are unhappy with their present accommodations in temporary accommodation centers (TACs) in Grozny. “It’s impossible to live here as it’s too crowded,” said Yakhita Abayeva, one of the TAC residents. “Three families live together in one very small space and although we’re all related, it’s still very uncomfortable.” According to Grozny’s deputy mayor Akhmed Ustayev, “The legally designated living space of 3.2 square meters per person is very difficult for people to accept compared with what they are used to. Communal living is really psychologically very difficult for Chechens.” Today there are almost 25,000 people living in 22 TACs within Grozny. Aside from overcrowding, there are also complaints about frequent power outages, lack of heating, and delays in distributing bread and supplying water. Despite the refugees having been told they would be given priority in receiving compensation for the loss of their homes, the city administration admitted that the number of people who received these payments is still very low. The Grozny administration set up control procedures to verify complaints and applications from TAC residents and presented the Moscow-backed president Alu Alkhanov with the facts about the refugees’ living conditions. However, this only resulted in dismissing Makka Murtazaliyeva, superintendent of the TAC located on the Novatorov Street. Chechen leader admits Russian abuses Wednesday 08 December 2004 The pro-Moscow president of Chechnya has admitted that Russian forces are to blame for a number of civilian disappearances in the war-torn republic. "Law and order officials, having arrested a suspect, do not always inform the local authorities and the families of the detained, which is a breach of the law," President Alu Alkhanov was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass news agency on Tuesday. Between 3000 and 4000 civilians have disappeared in Chechnya since hostilities resumed in 1999 between Russian federal forces and separatists, according to estimates by non-governmental organisations. Rights groups say Russian troops and Chechnya's pro-Moscow authorities are responsible for the vast majority of the disappearances. Some victims have been released, others have been found dead and yet others remain missing. However, Alkhanov, whose predecessor Akhmad Kadyrov was killed in an attack in May, insisted that the situation in Chechnya was "improving". Chechen war He quoted official figures saying that 175 people had been reported missing since the start of 2004, half the figure for 2003. However, the figures compiled by non-governmental organisations in Chechnya are much higher, with nearly 300 civilians reported kidnapped this year, according to the respected Russian human rights group Memorial. Alkhanov also said a number of people reported missing were in reality separatist fighters whose families sought to disown them. "It happens that a person takes to the forest [to join the separatist ranks] and that his relatives, to hide the fact that one of their own is part of an armed group, tell the police that he has 'disappeared'," he said. The president also charged that a number of "criminals" were "transformed" into missing persons in the process. International bodies have often criticised Russia for human rights abuses during the second Chechen war, which started in October 1999 when Moscow poured troops into the rebellious republic. AFP “Counter-captures” continue in Chechnya On 23 November, the inhabitants of the village Soghunty, Nozhay-Yurt district, were captured: Has-magomed Temirbiyev (b. 1932) and his two sons – Kosam Temirbiyev (b. 1974) and Suliman Temirbiyev (b. 1987), Has-Magomad's brother – Magomed Temirbiyev (b. 1929) and his son Umar Temirbiyev (b. 1969). Having been severely beaten by the Russian fascists, Magomed Tamirbiyev's wife, Ezidat (b. 1931) was taken to hospital in unconscious state. Besides that, the Russian fascists, burnt down the houses of Magomad temirbiyev and his elder son. The Russian aggressors also promised the Temirbiyevs that they would free them if their relative having links with the Chechen Resistance Movement surrenders. This is an example of Russian terror against the civilian population of Chechnya – the terror of the country considering to be part of the civilized world. Edalghiry Berzuakyev, for Chechenpress 09.12.04 http://www.chechenpress.info/english/news/2004/12/09/14.shtml 2004-12-10 16:24 Vladimir Lukin calls to protect rights of Chechen citizens MOSCOW, December 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russian human rights commissioner Vladimir Lukin calls to take all effort to protect the rights of Chechen citizens. "It was agreed with the Chechen Interior Ministry and the Republic's ombudsman to set up a commission involving all bodies, which control the human rights observation, in order to coordinate our activities," Mr. Lukin said at a press conference on Friday. "We shall try to do something without interfering in the political process in the Republic," the Russian ombudsman added. According to him, the introduction of the post of the Chechen ombudsman was a positive step because it is difficult to control the situation from Moscow. The disappearance of people is a key problem of the Republic, Mr. Lukin noted. "Since the beginning of the year 1,700 relevant criminal cases were started in Chechnya, while 50 of the cases went to court," he said. Moreover, Vladimir Lukin proposed establishing an inter-departmental commission on migration issues in Russia because, in his opinion, the migration problem in Russia is increasing and should not be handled by the Interior Ministry alone. In his words, the ombudsman's staff forwarded a relevant proposal to the government and presidential staff. "I handed this letter to Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov personally but the question is considered slowly," the human rights commissioner said. He believes that the government still lacks a clear-cut concept of attracting labor migrants and their cultural assimilation. Everything comes to "police control", he added. Mt. Lukin also suggested that Russia change the principle of registration of nonresident and foreign citizens who have a three-day limit unlike Ukrainians enjoying the possibility to live without registration for three months. "The fact that Ukrainians enjoy this right is an international norm. But why a person from Tula is given three days and a person from Vinnitsa three months to undergo registration. The migration commission is working hard to equalize them. In my opinion, we should introduce informative registration by mail," the ombudsman said. Legal nihilism and neglect of the law by top officials are the main problems in the human rights sphere. "I mean the federal and regional authorities, the judicial power and political leaders," Vladimir Lukin specified. "If we ever get legal consciousness since childhood and respect for the law by the authorities, many problems will be solved," he said. Dec 11 2004 11:48AM Emir of Chechnya's Urus-Martan district killed KHANKALA. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Law enforcement agencies have killed the so-called emir of Chechnya's Urus-Martan district in a special operation, the Chechen Interior Ministry's press service told Interfax on Saturday. "During a special operation in the Urus-Martan district last night, it was established that the emir of this district, Musa Gelkhayev, was in an Urus-Martan suburb. When measures were taken to detain Gelkhayev, he put up armed resistance and was killed," the press service said. Two large caches with weapons and ammunition were discovered in the Naurskaya district, a source with the district administration told Interfax on Saturday. Policemen found the caches at the Novoterskoye village cemetery and in a local forest. The police learned about the location of the caches from a guerilla who had been earlier detained by officers from the Grozny transport police department and who is suspected of involvement in a number of terrorist attacks in Chechnya, the source said. Another law enforcement source told Interfax by telephone that two students from the Grozny Petroleum Institute were kidnapped on Friday. "Unidentified people seized Grozny Petroleum Institute students Denis Istamulov and Ilyas Ebiyev in different communities and took them away in an unknown direction. Nothing is known about their whereabouts now," the source said. Another two Chechen residents were also kidnapped recently in similar circumstances, he said.