Latest North Caucasus Weekly Articles
Chechens Weigh In on the “Caucasus Emirate” Idea
Kavkazky Uzel and Prague Watchdog published reports on November 6 and November 1, respectively, quoting the opinions of ordinary Chechens about Chechen rebel leader Dokka Umarov’s declaration of a “Caucasus Emirate” (see articles by Andrei Smirnov and Mairbek Vatchagaev below). Ramzan, a Grozny resident and... MORE
Will the Rebels Declare the “Caucasian Emirate”?
On October 22, Ahmed Zakaev, foreign minister of the separatist Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, declared that instead of Ichkeria, the rebels in the North Caucasus wanted to create a unified separatist state in the region that would be called the “Caucasian Emirate.” In his statement,... MORE
Shamil Buraez—Politkovskaya’s Killer or Fall Guy?
During his live question-and-answer session with the Russian people on October 18 (a veritable PR-fest for the Kremlin’s image-makers), Vladimir Putin talked about what he felt was important to the general population. He certainly found no room for questions about the issue of Anna Politkovskaya’s... MORE
Chechen Businessman Wounded, Former Alkhanov Bodyguard Murdered in Moscow
The well-known Chechen businessman Malik Saidullaev was reportedly wounded in a gun attack that took place near his company's offices in Moscow on October 26. A member of Saidullaev's security team, Oleg Polinov, told Itar-Tass that three shots were fired from a black jeep parked... MORE
Three Policemen Wounded in Khasavyurt Attack
Three policemen were wounded in an attack in the Dagestani city of Khasavyurt, Interfax reported on November 1. The news agency quoted a source in the city's police department as saying that the incident took place in the early hours of November 1 when unidentified... MORE
Officials Seek “Caucasian Trail” in Tolyatti Bombing
An apparent bomb blast ripped through a passenger bus in the Samara Oblast city of Tolyatti on October 31, killing eight and injuring at least 54. Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigative Committee, a body recently set up under the auspices of the Prosecutor General's... MORE
Umarov Trying to Increase Financial Support from the Middle East
Last month, before the start of Ramadan, the top leader of the Chechen/Caucasian rebels, Dokku Umarov, issued a video statement that revealed possible uneasy relations between the North Caucasus insurgents and their supporters and sympathizers in Muslim countries, mainly in the Middle East. On the... MORE
Zakaev Claims Planned “Emirate” is Part of an Anti-Chechen Kremlin Plot
In a fresh sign of splits within the Chechen rebel leadership (Chechnya Weekly, October 18), Akhmed Zakaev, foreign minister of the separatist Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, has accused the Kremlin of plotting to destroy the statehood of Chechens and other people of the North Caucasus... MORE