Russia doesn't want to let Chechnya go
and blood continues to flow...
This verse is definitely not Pushkin's, although the Chechen issue was contemporary to the Russian poet. The Russian-Chechen antagonism has exasperated through the centuries, reaching its culmination in the 1990s when Chechnya first tried to separate. During the dark years of the Imperium, Chechens were held tight in the iron fist just like any other minority. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Chechnya's hope to gain independence resurfaced, but has been unable to break away from the status of a Republic in the Russian Federation.
The latest setback in the Russian hardliner politics in Chechnya came yesterday when a bomb killed the installed President of Chechnya. Kadyrov, a Muslim cleric who once sided with the separatists before switching to become the Kremlin's favoured son in Chechnya, died almost instantly, reported BBC. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed revenge for the bombing, which is being blamed on Chechen guerrillas.
Experts believe that the assassination has dealt a death blow to Putin. Kadyrov was Russia's only stronghold in Chechnya and he will not be easily replaced. During the last presidential election any possible successors were discredited to ensure Kadyrov's win. It is also highly unlikely that Moscow will hold peace talks with the rebels, especially with Maskhadov, who has been accused of having links with international terrorism. Since 9/11 there has been very little diplomatic pressure for a negotiated solution. No pressure to resolve the conflict is expected from the Russian community either. The general public is nearly oblivious of the events in Chechnya, as media coverage of the bloody five-year conflict is now sporadic: only major events, not the almost daily killings, hit the headlines.
With Kadyrov gone, the future of Chechnya is uncertain. KavkasCenter reported that Chechens have been waiting for this day for a long time but many are concerned that the unrest in Chechnya will now intensify with Russian troops, Kadyrov's son and his militia out to get revenge on ordinary people. To deal with the latest developments, Russia is expected to add 1,000 more troops to its current 80,000 army in Chechnya.
Read more: Enemies catch up with Kadyrov, What next for Chechnya?, The Chechen conflict, Russia to boost Chechnya forces, Mayhem after Grozny stadium blast
and blood continues to flow...
This verse is definitely not Pushkin's, although the Chechen issue was contemporary to the Russian poet. The Russian-Chechen antagonism has exasperated through the centuries, reaching its culmination in the 1990s when Chechnya first tried to separate. During the dark years of the Imperium, Chechens were held tight in the iron fist just like any other minority. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Chechnya's hope to gain independence resurfaced, but has been unable to break away from the status of a Republic in the Russian Federation.
The latest setback in the Russian hardliner politics in Chechnya came yesterday when a bomb killed the installed President of Chechnya. Kadyrov, a Muslim cleric who once sided with the separatists before switching to become the Kremlin's favoured son in Chechnya, died almost instantly, reported BBC. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed revenge for the bombing, which is being blamed on Chechen guerrillas.
Experts believe that the assassination has dealt a death blow to Putin. Kadyrov was Russia's only stronghold in Chechnya and he will not be easily replaced. During the last presidential election any possible successors were discredited to ensure Kadyrov's win. It is also highly unlikely that Moscow will hold peace talks with the rebels, especially with Maskhadov, who has been accused of having links with international terrorism. Since 9/11 there has been very little diplomatic pressure for a negotiated solution. No pressure to resolve the conflict is expected from the Russian community either. The general public is nearly oblivious of the events in Chechnya, as media coverage of the bloody five-year conflict is now sporadic: only major events, not the almost daily killings, hit the headlines.
With Kadyrov gone, the future of Chechnya is uncertain. KavkasCenter reported that Chechens have been waiting for this day for a long time but many are concerned that the unrest in Chechnya will now intensify with Russian troops, Kadyrov's son and his militia out to get revenge on ordinary people. To deal with the latest developments, Russia is expected to add 1,000 more troops to its current 80,000 army in Chechnya.
Read more: Enemies catch up with Kadyrov, What next for Chechnya?, The Chechen conflict, Russia to boost Chechnya forces, Mayhem after Grozny stadium blast
posted by Evgenia @ 5/10/2004 04:56:00 PM
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