Ever since the September 11 attacks, the Kremlin leadership has been going out of its way to cast Russia as a frontline state that, in its North Caucasus region, valiantly defends Europe and the world from the lethal threat of global terror. Yet most international... MORE

During a televised joint press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende in The Hague on November 2, President Vladimir Putin likened Russia's problems in Chechnya to attacks by Islamic militants in Europe, such as the murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh by... MORE

Kavkazcenter, citing Russian non-governmental human rights organizations, reported on November 2 that 116 people had been kidnapped in Chechnya over the previous month. Among those abducted, the Chechen separatist website claimed, were ten women, three police officers, two children aged seven and twelve, five teenagers... MORE

Police in Moscow briefly detained a group of protesters picketing the Prosecutor General's Office building in central Moscow on October 27. Among those detained was Ella Kesaeva, a former co-Chairwoman of the Beslan Mothers' Committee who heads the Voice of Beslan, which, as Kommersant reported... MORE

A man who was detained by Kabardino-Balkaria's anti-organized crime directorate (UBOP) on suspicion that he participated in the October 13 raid on police stations and other targets in Nalchik described to Kavkazky Uzel how he was tortured while in custody. "I was detained on the... MORE

Interfax reported on October 31 that when President Putin was asked during an interview with the Netherlands' Nederland 1 television and NRC Handlesblatt newspaper why Russian troops cannot find Chechen warlord Shamil Basaev, he responded: "Why hasn't [Osama] bin Laden been found yet? [He has... MORE

The official parliamentary election campaign started in Chechnya on October 29. On November 27, 18 deputies of the Council of the Republic and 40 deputies of the People's Assembly will be elected. These elections are important for the Russian authorities. The Kremlin wants to demonstrate... MORE

Representatives of a number of Chechen refugee organizations have appealed to the European Parliament to take measures to end the war in Chechnya, Kavkazky Uzel reported on November 16. "Our appeal is connected to the fact that over 11 years, Russia has carried out a... MORE

Kavkazky Uzel reported on November 16 that a Russian serviceman was killed in the mountainous Vedeno district when rebels fired on an army unit that was conducting a reconnaissance mission. The unit returned fire, but the attackers escaped into a wooded area. Citing an anonymous... MORE

The Chechenpress website on November 15 posted what it said was the Russian-language translation of an interview given by Chechen rebel president Abdul-Khalim Sadulaev to the Chechen-language service of Radio Liberty. Sadulaev said the reason why rebel "mujahideen" had begun launching attacks in neighboring republics,... MORE