As the cycle of revenge and counter-revenge between Chechens and Russians continues to spiral downward, it is worthwhile to pause for a longer view. The greatest Russian nationalist of the 20th century, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, provided some occasional glimpses of the Chechens in his classic of... MORE

A mine exploded on the outskirts of Grozny on August 21, destroying a vehicle in a federal military convoy and killing nine Russian troops, a Russian military source told Interfax on August 22. Six federal soldiers were killed in attacks by separatist rebels during a... MORE

The torching of four Grozny liquor shops in one night testifies to the influence of Islamic extremism among the rebel guerrillas, suggested the website Newsru.com on August 26. According to the website's report, all the alcoholic merchandise in every one of the shops was completely... MORE

Pressure against Chechen refugees in Ingushetia has intensified further in recent days, Aleksandr Podrabinek of the newspaper Russky kurier reported on August 18. Hooligans are throwing rocks at the tents during the night, he wrote, and the tents are also being besieged at night by... MORE

By Michaela Pohl It is difficult to muster any faith in Chechnya's October presidential elections, considering how the recent census and the referendum were carried out. According to phone calls from an anti-Kadyrov observer in Chechnya, the situation in the republic is tense, with campaign... MORE

The election authorities were still predicting that none of the candidates would get an absolute majority of the votes on October 5, the Kremlin-controlled website Strana.ru reported on August 15--and that it would therefore take a second round to produce a final victor. If Kadyrov... MORE

In an August 18 article for the newspaper Russky kurier, Zoya Svetova suggested that it may be no accident that Ruslan Khasbulatov's decision to drop out of the race coincided with that of Aslan Aslakhanov--and his high poll rating--to enter it. Aslakhanov will have the... MORE

Zoya Svetova of Russky kurier suggested on August 18 that the election's outcome, which until recently seemed to be a guaranteed victory for Kadyrov, is now uncertain. The most shocking new development, in her view, was Bislan Gantemirov's declaration of support for Dzhabrailov. She noted... MORE

The Russian media are publishing stories claiming that about 150 international observers will monitor the October election--uncritically repeating a statement made by Anatoly Popov, the Moscow-recognized administration's prime minister and acting president, at an August 14 press conference in Moscow. Popov specifically mentioned the Organization... MORE

One of the most visible moderates in Aslan Maskhadov's separatist government has resigned, and at least one veteran observer of the war in Chechnya is interpreting this as a victory for the extremists among the rebels. Salambek Maigov released a statement on August 14 announcing... MORE