In contrast to these aggressively confident statements by Russia's political and military leadership, there is the reality being experienced on the ground by the troops of the Russian Defense Ministry and Ministry of Internal Affairs. In the no. 42 issue of Moskovskie novosti, military journalist... MORE

This week we examine the predicament of Chechen refugees living in Ingushetiya, a tiny autonomous republic of the Russian Federation, with an indigenous population of slightly over 300,000, which shares a border with war-ravaged Chechnya. (A future report will focus upon the fate of Chechen... MORE

There are indications that the Russian Defense Ministry and Ministry of Internal Affairs have resolved to establish a long-term, high-profile military presence in Chechnya. Speaking to reporters at the Khankala Military Base outside of Djohar [Grozny] on November 2, Defense Minister Igor Sergeev and General... MORE

During his recent three-day visit to France to attend a European Union-Russia summit meeting and to conduct bilateral talks with President Chirac and other French officials, President Putin also took a hard line on Chechnya. While he expressed agreement with the contention of European Union... MORE

Intrigues continue to swirl around the Moscow-appointed Chechen political leadership headed by Mufti Akhmad Kadyrov and his disobedient No. 2, the newly reappointed mayor of Djohar, Bislan Gantamirov, a convicted embezzler. According to reports appearing in the Russian press, the two leaders remain bitter rivals,... MORE

On October 31, there were two de facto attempts on the life of Mufti Kadyrov. A Chechen suicide bomber blew himself up when he proved unable to get close enough to Kadyrov's headquarters to kill the pro-Moscow leader. And, on the evening of the same... MORE

In response to a query from the Jamestown Foundation, the Press and Public Information Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) replied on October 30: "For the time being, no decision has been taken as to when the OSCE would return... MORE

Last week we examined the situation of approximately 170,000 refugees from Chechnya who are now preparing for winter in the small republic of Ingushetiya, adjacent to war-torn Chechnya. It will be recalled that influential Russian political and military leaders have advocated that all of those... MORE