The Chechen parliament, which is dominated by deputies loyal to Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov, has taken what Kommersant on September 7 described as “the final step toward the creation of an autonomous republic within the structure of Russia.” The legislature introduced into the State Duma... MORE

The separatist Kavkazcenter.com website on September 12 posted a statement by the “Jamaat of Ossetian mujahideen ‘Kataib al Khoul’” claiming that they were responsible for the crash the previous day of an Mi-8 Russian military helicopter. The chopper with three crew members and 12 senior... MORE

The Sunday Times reported on September 10 that fears were growing over the fate of Elina Ersenoeva, a young Chechen journalist who was reportedly forced to marry Chechen rebel warlord Shamil Basaev last fall and was abducted at gunpoint, apparently by pro-Moscow Chechen security forces,... MORE

The Kremlin on September 18 asked the State Duma to approve an amnesty plan for militants in Chechnya and other republics of the North Caucasus. The Associated Press, citing Itar-Tass, quoted the chairman of the Duma committee on criminal legislation, Pavel Krasheninnikov, as saying that... MORE

Memorial released a statement on September 16 concerning the gun battle that took place between Chechen OMON police commandos and Ingush police on the administrative border between Chechnya and Ingushetia on September 13, in which eight people died–up from the original reported death toll of... MORE

Eight militants were captured in a special operation in the city of Malgobek in Ingushetia on September 21, during which five policemen were wounded, Newsru.com reported. Security forces blockaded the militants in a private home, but were fired on by accomplices of the rebels. “The... MORE

In August 2006, the Russian Interior Ministry (MVD) announced changes in the security structure of the North Caucasus that would dissolve the Regional Operational Headquarters responsible for counter-terrorism, replacing it with a series of local operational headquarters in the Southern Federal District led by MVD... MORE

Ramzan Kadyrov has again insisted that he does not want to become Chechnya’s president but will do so if the people demand it. According to the Associated Press, Kadyrov told reporters in Gudermes on September 27 that he was not ready to become president “because... MORE

Chechen President Alu Alkhanov said on September 26 that the number of kidnappings in Chechnya has dropped significantly. “Unfortunately, cases of kidnapping continue to take place,” Interfax quoted him as saying during a press conference in Grozny. “But in speaking about this, it is necessary... MORE

Rebel attacks have increased in Chechnya over the last week. Interfax reported on September 28 that a police officer was killed and another wounded in an attack by “members of illegal armed groups.” The news agency quoted a Chechen Interior Ministry source as saying that... MORE