Latest Articles about North Caucasus
Chechnya and the Northern Caucasus without Shamil Basaev
For the president of the Russian Federation, the past month has been full of good news from Chechnya. It was only on June 17 that information about the death of Abdul-Khalim Sadulaev, leader of the Chechen separatists, had come to light and now, just a... MORE
BASAEV’S DEATH DOES NOT SOLVE KREMLIN WORRIES IN NORTH CAUCASUS
Chechen warlord Shamil Basaev died in Ingushetia on Monday, July 10. He perished either accidentally while preparing a sabotage operation or, according to the official version, he was eliminated by Russian special forces. Following the news, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, visited Grozny, the Chechen... MORE
BASAEV GONE, BUT MOSCOW STILL HAS HEADACHES IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS
The July 9 death of Chechen warlord Shamil Basaev from an accidental explosion -- not a Russian-planned operation -- removes the Chechen rebels’ most charismatic and probably most ruthless commander from the scene. Although Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Nikolai Patrushev claimed, “The effort became... MORE
ROBBERY, RACKETEERING, RANSOM FUND NORTH CAUCASUS INSURGENCY
Dagestan has experienced a wave of armored-car robberies this spring. The costliest attacks took place in Khasavyurt, Makhachkala, and in the mountainous Utsukul district. In March a bank vehicle in Khasavyurt was robbed of 1 million rubles. In April gunmen held up a bank vehicle... MORE
REBELS IN NORTH CAUCASUS TARGET SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS
On June 21 assassinations rocked the city of Khasavyurt, in the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan. Saigidsalim Zabitov, head of the local police organized crime division, was shot dead together with Shamsudin Kachakaev, a policeman who was accompanying him. Rebels ambushed their car late at... MORE
DAGESTAN: THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM?
The North Caucasus is poised for a possible rebel offensive. Police and army troops in North Ossetia and Ingushetia have been on high alert since April (see EDM, April 20). Tensions grew even higher after the homes of several ethnic Russians were attacked in Ingushetia... MORE
ADYGEI LEADER CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE KREMLIN
Last weak Adygeya was rocked by the unexpected announcement of the local president's resignation, followed quickly by an even more surprising reversal. On April 4 the president of Adygeya, Khasret Sovmen, announced his resignation during a session of the republican parliament. Although his press service... MORE
INGUSH REBELS TARGET LOCAL RUSSIAN POPULATION
Late on the night of February 27, Magomed Chakhkiev, a deputy to the parliament of Ingushetia, was driving in the town of Nazran when masked gunmen suddenly blocked his way near the town's main sports arena. The gunmen shot through the wheels of Chakhkiev's car,... MORE
AUTHORITIES REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE INSURGENCY IN NORTH OSSETIA
On February 1 three homemade bombs exploded almost simultaneously in casinos and gambling clubs in the center of Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia. Two persons were killed and 25 wounded in the blasts. The republican prosecutor's office subsequently initiated criminal proceeding under the "terrorism"... MORE
RUSSIAN ENERGY SUPPLY CUTOFF TO GEORGIA: ANOTHER WAKE-UP SIGNAL TO THE WEST
At 2:52 and 3:15 AM, Moscow time, on January 22, TNT bomb explosions in Russia's North Ossetia damaged the North Caucasus-South Caucasus main pipeline and Mozdok-Tbilisi auxiliary pipeline that supply Georgia (and Armenia through Georgia) with gas. At 11:50 AM that same day, another TNT... MORE