Chechen separatist leader Abdul-Khalim Sadulaev said in a June 4 interview with Radio Liberty's Chechen service that rebels would continue attacks on military and economic targets but not harm civilians. "It is inadmissible to carry out attacks on peaceful unarmed people not participating in military... MORE

On May 28, Bislan Gantamirov, the former Grozny mayor and Chechen vice-premier, sent a letter to the federal authorities asking for protection for his family from what he characterized as illegal actions by forces loyal to First Deputy Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov. Gantamirov claimed... MORE

Chechen President Alu Alkhanov told reporters in Moscow on June 6 that work on the treaty delimiting powers between Moscow and Chechnya is nearly completed. However, Kommersant reported the following day that the Kremlin had forced the Chechen side to give up on one of... MORE

An article published in Nezavisimaya gazeta on June 6 declared straightforwardly that Dagestan is becoming "a second Chechnya." Attacks against the staff of law-enforcement agencies are becoming more frequent in Dagestan than in Chechnya, the newspaper stated, pointing to the incident in Khasavyurt on June... MORE

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed on June 2 that Russia has proof that Chechens were involved in the bloodshed in the southeastern Uzbek city of Andijan on May 13. "We have information that Islamic extremists, structures of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, remnants of... MORE

On June 1, Andreas Gross, PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) deputy chairman and Special Rappateur on Chechnya, launched an unexpectedly strong critique of Russian policy towards the Chechen republic in an interview with Tages Anzeiger newspaper. Gross insisted that only real autonomy... MORE

On June 14, Budennovsk marked the tenth anniversary of the hostage-taking raid led by Chechen rebel warlord Shamil Basaev, Russian news agencies reported. According to MosNews, residents of the southern Russian town laid wreaths at monuments to local police officers, who were the first to... MORE

The situation in Dagestan continues to heat up. On June 14, police blocked two suspected Islamic militants in a house in the town of Khasavyurt, reportedly killing one and capturing another, the Associated Press reported. On June 8, Timur Omaev, a representative in the Novolaksk... MORE

The trial of Nur-Pashi Kulaev, the sole participant in last September's Beslan terrorist act to be captured and put on trial, has yielded fresh testimony that raises questions about the actions of the local and federal authorities. Answering questions from victims of the incident, Kulaev... MORE

Fighting between rebel forces and federal troops and their pro-Chechen allies continues unabated. Seven officers of the Tver regional department of the Interior Ministry were shot to death on the border between Chechnya's Kurchaloi and Shali districts on June 9. Kommersant reported the following day... MORE