--THE FIGHTING IN CHECHNYA GOES ON… Russian troops killed two rebel fighters guarding a rebel base in Chechnya's Vedeno district, Radio Liberty's Russian-language service reported on May 24. In Grozny that same day, police discovered and defused a large explosive device on the grounds of... MORE

--PUTIN CONCERNED ABOUT CAUCASUS EXODUS President Vladimir Putin expressed concern over the exodus of the Russian-speaking population from the North Caucasus during a May 25 meeting of Cossack leaders in Rostov Oblast. "As for the exodus of the Russian population from the North Caucasus, it... MORE

--IVANOV DEFENDS ULMAN VERDICT On June 6, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov defended last month's acquittal by a Rostov jury of GRU Captain Eduard Ulman and three subordinates on charges of murdering six Chechen civilians in January 2002. Ivanov also attacked Russia's chief military prosecutor, Colonel-General... MORE

--GANTAMIROV VERSUS THE CHECHEN GOVERNMENT On June 13, Chechnya's State Council and government sent a complaint to the Kremlin accusing former Chechen vice-premier Bislan Gantamirov of "trying to discredit the lawful authorities of the republic, and also the policy of the federal center." Kommersant reported... MORE

--KADYROV GETS ANOTHER MEDAL Chechen President Alu Alkhanov signed a decree conferring Chechnya's top award, the Order of Akhmad Kadyrov, on Ramzan Kadyrov, the late Chechen president's son and Chechnya's first deputy prime minister, Itar-Tass reported on June 18. The order, which is decorated with... MORE

--REBELS AND FEDS EXCHANGE FIRE Citing the Chechen Interior Ministry, Interfax on June 26 reported that rebels had attacked policemen across the republic. According to the news agency, armed men broke into the home of police officer Aslanbek Asuev in Shatoi district village of Yukerch-Keloi,... MORE

-- GUARDS REMOVED AT DISPLACED PERSONS' CAMPS Kavkazky Uzel reported on July 5 that guards had been removed from around temporary settlements for displaced people in Chechnya because of a lack of funds. Residents of the settlements are concerned about this. "We had serious problems... MORE

--FORMER BESLAN HOSTAGE SAYS THERE WERE 70+ TERRORISTS A former Beslan hostage testified at the trial of Nur-Pashi Kulaev, the sole participant in the Beslan school seizure to be apprehended by the authorities, that the number of terrorists involved was more than twice the official... MORE

--POLL SHOWS BROAD SUPPORT FOR NEGOTIATIONS A poll taken in June by the independent Levada Center found that only 23 of the respondents said they believe that a "peaceful life" is being restored in Chechnya while 68 percent believe that war is continuing there. Only... MORE

--NEARLY A HALF MILLION ARE UNEMPLOYED Kavkazky Uzel on July 26 quoted a source in Chechnya's Ministry of Labor and Social Development as saying that the overwhelming majority of Chechnya's workforce does not have regular work and that the number of unemployed continues to grow.... MORE