13015 THE FIRST INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE ABOUT EVENTS IN THE CAUCASUS FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Editorial office in Moscow RF, 103982, Moscow, DIGEST #15 2013 per. Luchnikov 4, entr. 3, room 1. Tel. (495) 621-04-24 Tel./fax (495) 625-06-63 THEMIS: SUI IURIS? E-mail: [email protected] Editor in chief Israpil SHOVKHALOV 2 MEANWHILE, PEOPLE CONTINUE Justice has been served! Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov might influence E-mail: [email protected] Pavlyuchenkov has been sentenced those involved in the case. Executive Editor TO DISAPPEAR... to eleven years of imprisonment Abdulla DUDUEV for his involvement in the murder So why did Pavlyuchenkov receive E-mail: [email protected] of Novaya Gazeta columnist Anna such a light sentence? It is written Department Offices Politkovskaya. Pavlyuchenkov was that he cooperated with investiga- HISTORY/HUMAN 4 under investigation from August tors, giving up his accomplices (or RIGHTS/SOCIETY/CULTURE 4 "WE WERE LEFT ONE-ON-ONE 23, 2011, which means that he will persons imaginary), and that he Maria KATYSHEVA, Zoya SVETOVA, have to spend nine years and eight has received plaudits and medals, Lidiya MIKHALCHENKO, months in the colony. Though, among them one for "distinguished Inna BUTORINA, Yelena SANNIKOVA, WITH OUR GRIEF..." Taus SERGANOVA even this is doubtful, since he will service." (He distinguished himself "Our repeated requests to the be eligible for parole in six years, especially in surveilling Anna Correspondents Marem YALKHAROEVA (Ingushetia) and his petition may be granted. Politkovskaya and setting his Mussa MEISIGOV (Ingushetia) head of the Republic of Ingushetia After all, he is no Khodorkovsky or accomplices on her trail.) This Aida GADZHIEVA (Dagestan) 8 WAR HERO OR UNREPENTANT CRIMINAL? Lebedev! And yet, an inner voice qualifies as a mitigating circum- Ali MAGOMEDOV (Dagestan) and to the Republic of Ingushetia tells me that Pavlyuchenkov will be stance? But the main thing, of Nadezhda BOTASHEVA freed even earlier. His lawyer has course, is that he "cooperated." (Karachayevo-Cherkessia) already petitioned (and will go on Though, he did not name the per- Assistant Editor Security Council produced no doing so) for his gravely-ill defen- son who hired him, which is the Georgiy ZINGER 14 FROM PEACE AT HOME TO PEACE dant to be granted a suspended pith of the problem, since the Literary editor of Russian texts results; everywhere we heard a sentence. And why not? assassin and his accomplices are no Irina VASUTCHENKO AROUND THE WORLD Pavlyuchenkov's illness, whatever more than six. English translation by single answer: we believe the secu- it may be, is no doubt more serious Boris SMIRNOV than that of Vasily Aleksanyan. Or And so to recapitulate: some, as we Design and layout the one that afflicts that young know, are tried over nothing: sim- Dmitry YAKOVLEV rity agencies." How many such tes- woman, Taisiya Osipova. By the ply, some distinguished police felt 16 STORIES INVENTED BY LIFE way, she, a diabetic and mother to like being courageous, and that is This publication has been published since 2003 and is registered with the timonials have already been print- a small child, was sentenced to sufficient to turn a healthy person Federal Service for Supervision in the eight years for selling drugs. But, into a lifelong invalid. I suppose Sphere of Telecom, Information ed by this magazine? And how "was there a boy?" that given such examination meth- Technologies and Mass Communications ods it would not have been diffi- (Roskomnadzor). 22 The certificate of re-registration is: "YOU NEED TO BE EXTERMINATED!" The fact that Pavlyuchenkov must cult to ascertain the client's name. PI No. FS77-46140, many more — we are terrified to compensate the family of Anna What does "exceeding one's dated August 11, 2011. Politkovskaya to the tune of three authorized powers" matter? No Founders and publishers: ask — will we have to print? It million rubles, is an insignificant one "exceeded" anything, nor fig- Members of the Russian human rights research center: detail not worth mentioning, like ured anything out. Did they not 24 "IF HE'S INNOCENT, HE'LL COME BACK?" Civil Society and Freedom of Speech seem as if time has stopped and anything involving money. He want to very much? Or is the Initiative Center for the Caucasus; received 150 thousand dollars client's name already known? The non-profit organization Right to Life from the client who hired him, so and Civil Dignity the only audible sound is of the three million rubles should be easy But I digress. Beside everything The opinions expressed by authors in articles and interviews to muster. 26 IN A COUNTRY BACK FROM WAR else, what bothers me in this story are not necessarily those of the editorial blood fleeing the hearts of moth- is that Anna Politkovskaya's life, as board or of the publisher. We would also like to note --- and it turns out, is worth unimaginably All rights to articles published in this issue this is not unimportant --- that less than the life of the football fan belong to the editorial board. ers and fathers — of the exhausted Reprint without permission of the editorial Pavlyuchenkov was placed under Egor Sviridov. Recall that for mur- board is forbidden. 30 HOW WE WERE COUNTED guard upon the verdict's dering Sviridov, likely without pre- When using or quoting articles, reference tears shed by sisters and brothers. announcement. Prior to that, he meditation, Aslan Cherkesov was to "DOSH" is obligatory. was under house arrest. It follows sentenced to twenty years! Is it not Not everyone, unfortunately, can that the court did not consider the time to remove the blindfold from The magazine is distributed in Russia, Georgia former officer of the Moscow City Themis' eyes? If we did, perhaps we Azerbaijan, Armenia, Lithuania, 32 A BLAZE OF KINDNESS, EXTINGUISHED Police a threat to society. Beside would discover whether she is sui Norway, Germany hear it. this, the court was not worried that iuris. Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Great Britain Circulation of the Russian edition - 10.000; "This magazine is published with support from the Human Rights House Foundation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, English edition - 1.000. and the National Endowment for Democracy" ABDULLA DUDUEV WITHOUT TRACE OR INVESTIGATION

MEANWHILE, Mr. Agiyev was a private security guard a plenty of the envious on this sinful described are the only ones that this for the Republic of Ingushetia MVD. planet? publication is aware of.

PEOPLE CONTINUE Where he is remains undetermined. What lies behind the word "disappear"? P.S. On December 17, the head of The persons involved in the abduction And who is behind the disappearances? Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov met have likewise not been found. Aliens? In such cases it really is impossi- with the colleagues of Akhmed TO DISAPPEAR... ble to find either the abductors or their Buzurtanov. As our correspondent was On December 6, in the Mayskoye victim. It looks like this is precisely the told by one of this meeting's partici- urban center, a suburb of RNO-Alania, conclusion that the North Caucasus pants, the head of the Republic remind- a group of armed persons abducted republics' investigative authorities are, ed those present that he had "offered 29-year-old Akhmed Buzurtanov, a fatalistically, leaning towards: they them hints earlier, not to tangle them- trainer at the Kaloy fitness club. don't seem to trouble themselves too selves with people one shouldn't tangle Chronicle of disappearances According to information provided by much, since the abductors can't be with" (meaning members of the armed in Ingushetia in 2012 Mr. Buzurtanov's relatives, his car was touched, while the victims are, resistance — Author's Note). stopped near his home by a group of undoubtedly, better off in some far- unknown persons in black military away galaxy. Hence, these authorities' "Did Akhmed hear this?" Mr. Yevkurov On February 10, 2012, around him with their rifle butts. They tied up 2012, around seven o'clock in the uniforms. The group had driven up in disinterest in searching for the causal asked the club manager, Murad eleven o'clock in the evening, in the other employees and kept them in morning, a burned car, presumed to be three passenger cars. The assailants relationships that lie at the foundations Izmaylov. He went on to explain that he Karabulak, on ul. Promyslova, near a their sights. One employee who tried to a VAZ 21099, was discovered in the pulled Akhmed out of the car and, of any crime. Though to tell the truth, had phone transcripts of Mr. railroad overpass, four unidentified resist was also beaten. Having placed environs of Berd-Yurt. Fragments of a overpowering him, placed him into without uncovering these relation- Buzurtanov's conversations which (as men armed with automatic rifles the half-conscious Abubakar in hand- burned body were also found at this one of their cars. After this, they van- ships, you will not find the criminals or far as can be gleaned from the Republic abducted 50-year-old Amerkhan cuffs, they carried him to the car. The location. The deceased was identified ished, as in all of the aforementioned the victims — but then again, the task head's not very clear but suggestive Gadaborshev. abductors spent another hour at the by his relatives as Bekkhan Zhukalayev cases, in an unknown direction. The is too laborious. How much effort and words) testify to the abducted man's pump station, after which they drove of Arshty. athlete's car was later found outside of time would be spent on dealing with connections with the insurgents. On February 17, 2012, between six off in an unknown direction. At the Mayskoye with shattered windows. this problem in earnest! Plus there's and seven o'clock in the evening, at moment, Mr. Tsechoyev's location is The Republic of Ingushetia MVD's nothing to be gained in doing so, since But there was another even more the Mineralnye Vody train station in undetermined. The persons involved in website reports that the burned car Akhmed is the third man in his family the republics' executive organs look astounding fact: the Secretary of the the Stavropol Region, presumable FSB his abduction also remain unidentified. belonged to Bay-Ali Makhauri and that to have disappeared without a trace. down upon these events with a conde- Security Council of Ingushetia, Akhmed agents abducted Rustam Aushev, the cause of the fire was an explosion His father and older brother also dis- scension worthy of celestials. Kotiyev, who accompanied Mr. born 1988, an inhabitant of Nazran, On June 11, 2012, in the Sunzhensky equivalent to 800 grams of TNT. appeared in 1992, during the Ingush- Yevkurov, informed the meeting that a Republic of Ingushetia. District of Ingushetia, three villagers of Ossetian Conflict. There's only one problem: you just criminal investigation has been opened Arshty disappeared under murky cir- At the current time the whereabouts of cannot convince the relatives of van- into Mr. Buzurtanov's abduction under On March 22, 2012, around nine cumstances: Bay-Ali Makhauri, born B-A. Makhauri and I. Bazgiyev are However, this time the victim was well ished people that their sons, husbands, Section 105 of the Criminal Code of the o'clock in the evening, in 1982, Bekkhan Zhukalayev, born undetermined. known, and therefore the deed was fathers and brothers are really better Russian Federation — "Murder." Ordzhonikidzevskaya Stanitsa of the 1985, and Islam Bazgiyev, born 1990. "done quickly": the North Ossetian off there, in another galaxy. Sunzhensky District of Ingushetia, On August 23, 2012, around nine and investigating authorities have opened The fitness trainer's coworkers and unidentified armed men abducted According to relatives, Mr. Makhauri a half o'clock in the morning, in the an investigation into Mr. Buzurtanov's The data provided herein, concerning friends, who had theretofore assumed local inhabitant Abubakar took his car, a green VAZ 21099, to the Ordzhonikidzevskaya Stanitsa of the abduction (Clause 1 Section 105 the traceless disappearances in late that the abducted man's fate was Tsechoyev, born 1978. village of Berd-Yurt to help his rela- Sunzhensky District of Ingushetia, (Murder) Criminal Code of the Russian 2012 of Ingush citizens, cannot be con- unknown, were extremely unsettled tives build a house. Bekkhan Ruslanbek Agiyev, born 1988, was Federation). sidered complete because the cases upon hearing this. And so, Mr. According to Ibrahim Tsechoyev, Zhukalayev and Islam Bazgiyev went abducted. Buzurtanov is dead and the Republic's Abubakar's brother, the abduction took with him. Relatives learned from eye- Detective A. Taymazov's preliminary leadership somehow knows this? In the place in the main pump station of the witness accounts that in the evening According to the statement of his wife, conclusion beggars belief: he supposes end, no one dared to ask whether this Vodokanal PEWSS (Public Enterprise when they were returning home, Khava Gatiyeva, around nine and a that Akhmed Buzurtanov fell victim to means that the authorities are implicitly for Water Supply and Sanitation) between the urban centers Berd-Yurt half o'clock in the morning of August criminals. admitting their involvement in the located on ul. Kalinina of and Arshty, the car occupied by the 23, 2012, when R. Agiyev was returning abduction of Akhmed Buzurtanov and, Ordzhonikidzevskaya Stanitsa in the young men was stopped by unidenti- from his shift, unknown persons in And so, people keep disappearing consequently, in extra-legal executions Sunzhensky District of the Republic of fied men in camouflage who arrived in camouflage and masks drove up in a approximately once every two — as well as, whether one may expect Ingushetia where Abubakar was work- three Lada-Prioras and one white silver Lada-Priora, stopped his car, months. What the abductors' priorities the imminent (or not so imminent) dis- ing as an operator. According to wit- Gazelle. The relatives do not know pulled him out and began beating him are in terms of their "selection" of vic- covery of the killed "insurgent" nesses, three station employees — an what happened after that. with their rifle butts. Thereafter, the tims, remains unclear. At first glance, Buzurtanov. electrician, a machinist and a guard — abductors placed the unconscious all of the disappeared are completely 29-year-old fitness trainer Akhmed were abducted by the armed men who According to data from the Central Ruslanbek into their car and drove random people. Aside perhaps from Buzurtanov was abducted on December 6, burst into the station in camouflaged Investigation Department of the away in an unknown direction. She Akhmed Buzurtanov whose profes- 2012, in the Mayskoye settlement in the uniforms and masks. Three of them Investigative Committee of Russia for was told all of this by witnesses to the sional activities might have inconve- suburbs of North Ossetia by an armed attacked Abubakar and began beating the Republic of Ingushetia, on June 12, abduction. nienced someone. After all, is there not group in military uniforms.

2 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 3 LAWFUL TORTURES LAWFUL TORTURES

The First Story dren only she and Allah know. There was no one to help the young woman. There is sorrow, suffering, and despair To raise her children, she struggled like "We were left in the eyes of Pyatimat (Fatima) a fish against the ice. Despite the hard- Ausheva. ships, she managed to provide them with a post-secondary education; she In February a great grief came to her married off her sons and found a hus- one-on-one door: her son Rustam Aushev vanished band for her daughter. Few men can in Mineralnye Vody. On February 17, manage as much. he had departed by train from Nazran to Mineralnye Vody where he was to Her sons Akhmedkhan and Rustam with our grief..." change trains for Brest. Rustam was on made her happy with their work ethic his way to Belgium to visit his sister. and their lack of bad habits. Both fin- According to Rustam's wife, Asi, at five ished School No. 1 in Nazran. Rustam o'clock in the evening, Rustam was received his diploma with distinction. already in Mineralnye Vody and was Pyatimat dreamed of a peaceful old – So say the relatives of Rustam and Akhmedkhan communicating with her by text mes- age. sage. After six, Rustam stopped Aushev, Khasan Esmurziyev, and Zurab Didigov, answering messages or calls, and after On June 29, misfortune once more vis- Rustam Aushev vanished at the train station g6 abducted and tortured by security-service agents. seven his phone was off. ited the house of the poor woman: at Mineralnye Vody on February 17, 2012. six o'clock in the morning, security- Relatives spent a day waiting to hear service agents surrounded it in ten to a temporary detention facility of the from him and then went to cars, searched it, and took with them Republic of North Ossetia-Alania MVD. Mineralnye Vody to look for him. They her son, Akhmedkhan. I have a medical examination certifi- turned to the rail station's guards for cate dated February 7, 2012. All of the help and were shown CCTV footage. "On the Internet it says that complaints about the torture of "Our repeated requests to the head of the Republic of One camera recorded how four Akhmedkhan is a leader of the Narzani Akhmedkhan submitted by the lawyer unknown people in civilian clothes insurgents group," says Pyatimat, "and Luiza Isayeva to the Prosecutor of Ingushetia and to the Republic of Ingushetia Security Council detain Rustam, bending his arms. that he had a personal driver named North Ossetia, remain unanswered. All Another showed Rustam being placed Bashir Mislaurov. But if my son has his of the investigatory events were con- produced no results; everywhere we heard a single answer: in a white Gazelle van. According to own personal driver, why would I need ducted without the lawyer's presence. the station guards, even prior to Mr. to work as a housemaid?" Under torture, Akhmedkhan was we believe the security agencies." Aushev's detainment, they had asked coerced to refuse legal representation the driver of the white Gazelle to move "Akhmedkhan has been disabled since because 'we don't need your lawyers; the van because it was parked in a childhood," says his wife, Inessa. we have our own.' The detectives were How many such testimonials have already been printed by this restricted area. The van was not "Currently, he is in Pretrial Detention telling them that their relatives had allowed on the station premises, so the Facility No. 1 in Vladikavkaz. They turned their backs on them, but of magazine? And how many more — we are terrified to ask — unknown men moved it some dis- took him to the Oktyaborskoe course they didn't believe them, and tance away. Temporary Detention Facility and kept on November 13, I signed a new agree- will we have to print? It seem as if time has stopped and the them there ten days; they tortured him ment with the lawyers." only audible sound is of the blood fleeing the hearts of moth- The guards did not give the Aushevs there. At midnight, they would wrap this footage, promising that they his head in paper and scotch tape, The Second Story ers and fathers — of the exhausted tears shed by sisters and would hand it over at law enforce- drive him out to a field in a Gazelle ment's request. But like Rustam, it too and beat him. So that there would be There was no place that the young brothers. Not everyone, unfortunately, can hear it. vanished mysteriously and tracelessly. no traces from the beatings, they mother of three (the youngest is eight would tie rags to him and hit him months), Rumina Kodzoyeva did not Rustam, the youngest of Pyatimat's there. Later, in the temporary deten- seek succor from her misfortune. She Our correspondent in Ingushetia, Magomet KARTOEV, sons, was two years old when his tion facility, they would finish him off sent petitions to eighteen offices, start- mother's husband left, leaving her with electricity. They demanded he ing from the President of the Russian recorded these soul-rending stories. alone with five small children. sign a confession and refuse lawyers. Federation, the head of the Republic of Pyatimat ended up burying one of her On the tenth day, to let the traces of Ingushetia, and ending with the mufti small sons. How she raised the chil- the beatings dissipate, they took him of the Republic of Ingushetia.

4 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 5 LAWFUL TORTURES LAWFUL TORTURES

As a result of torture, Khasan Esmurziyev's wrist is fractured, the webbing between his fingers She passed on her petition to us too: torn, and he cannot 1. Lida Esmurziyeva firearm, as a result of which, the suspect Many in the Republic knew my hus- hear well. 2. Sali Esmurziyev suffered gunshot wounds to his extremi- band. He used prayer to heal people's "A very complicated and tangled situa- 3. Daud Esmurziyev ties. K. Esmurziyev was neutralized and ailments. He helped the poor and tion has forced us to turn to you. 4. Maret Esmurziyeva detained by RF FSBD of the Republic of needy, organizing charitable events — Everything began during the most holy 5. Radimkhan Gadiyeva Ingushetia agents, after which he was even though we ourselves live modest- festival, Eid al-Adha, when out of 6. Zalina Esmurziyeva offered medical assistance. A personal ly. He earned money by laying paving nowhere, people in camouflaged uni- 7. Fatima Kulbuzheva search of K. Esmurziyev uncovered and slabs. He even received a letter of forms and masks burst into the court- 8. Asya Gagiyeva confiscated a 'khatabka' homemade appreciation from the Muslim Spiritual yard of my father-in-law, Sali 9. Khusen Esmurziyev explosive device and a 'Shaheed belt' Authority for his charitable work." Esmurziyev. This took place between and, firing, wounded him in his leg and "No less blasphemous is that 'they' (the November 1, 2012." homemade explosive device with three and four o'clock in the afternoon arm. 'guardians of the law'), a day after the primed projectiles. The Third Story on October 26, 2012. shooting of my husband (the father of In answer to her petition, Rumina "For these acts, just as in '37, the perpe- three children), posted to the Internet Kodzoyeva received the following "Based on these circumstances, on Zurab Didigov, like Akhmedkhan "That day, my husband Khasan trators receive awards and enormous that he was allegedly trying to commit a response from the Nazran Prosecutor's October 27, 2012, the head of the Aushev, was taken from his home early Esmurziyev, our three small children, monetary rewards. suicide attack, intending to destroy his Office: Examination Department of the MVD of in the morning of June 29. and I had gone to Khasan's parents' coreligionists, fellow Muslims, on the Russia for the city of Nazran has house to congratulate the elders and "As a mother and a woman, I am com- holy for all festival of Eid al-Adha. "The Prosecutor's Office of Nazran has opened criminal case No. 12160205 "Because my husband went off to the celebrate the festival. pletely convinced that such crimes will examined your petition concerning the against K. Esmurziyev under Clause 1, session, on the night of June 28, my son lead to the inevitable demise of our "If Khasan, as these 'Internet sources' illegal actions of law enforcement Section 222 of the RF Criminal Code. slept at my house," relates Alikhan We were all shocked and daunted by great Motherland, which cannot be claimed, wanted to commit a terrorist agents toward K. Esmurziyev. Didigov. "Not having found my son at such an impudent and unforgivable allowed under any circumstances! act through suicide bombing, he could "Upon examination of the criminal his home, the security-service agents incursion by the armed group, which have done it quite effectively in our "It is established that on October 26, case's materials, no violations of the showed up at our house at six o'clock in numbered between twenty and thirty "With their cruel and unjustified actions, city's Central Mosque during the mass 2012, in the course of investigative suspect's, K. Esmurziyev's, rights have the morning. They began to check our people. these security agents foment distrust and morning salat when it was full of peo- work being conducted by agents from been ascertained. passports. Seeing Zurab's passport they hate toward the authorities and law ple, or on the same day during the the Center for Extremist began to 'get out of hand.' I placed a "At the time, we were about to do the enforcement agencies among the public. Sabbatical supper salat. Countermeasures of the Republic of "For your information, I report that carbine and a non-lethal pistol on the after-supper salat. But the ritual was The soldiers conduct these operations Ingushetia MVD in conjunction with your petition concerning the illegal table, but they didn't even concern interrupted by the actions of the men pursuing their private gain, since they "It turns out that he (if we are to believe agents from the RF Federal Security detention of K. Esmurziyev in the tem- themselves with what these weapons who burst into the courtyard of my receive enormous amounts of money for his executioners) decided to destroy his Service Directorate for the Republic of porary detention facility of the MVD of were or where they had come from. father-in-law armed to the teeth. doing this: they are paid from fifty to sev- children, parents, brothers, sisters and Ingushetia, aimed at the detainment of Russia for the Sunzhensky District, has The planted four hundred grams of enty thousand rubles for each hour of the all their guests, who had gathered for Khasan Esmurziyev, born 1981, resid- been sent to the Prosecutor's Office for hexogen on us and took Zurab. For "Hardly had the indiscriminate auto- 'operation.' Earning such money, they the festival at his father's house. ing at: 17 ul. Didigova, Interregional the Sunzhensky District in pursuance to thirteen days we knew nothing about matic fire started than my husband strive to conduct similar operations often 11asyr-Kortskiy, Nazran, Republic of the territorial principle. our son. I am ready to swear on the Khasan began running for the neigh- and for as long as possible. At the heart of "I urgently ask you, honorable Mr. Ingushetia, suspected of involvement in Qur'an that my son Zurab is not guilty boring street — terrified of a repeat of this business are the corpses and blood of President, as the guarantor of our 15 illegally armed groups, said suspect "In the event that you disagree with the of anything. Someone slandered him. what had happened to him three many innocent people. Now, exactly this nation's Constitution, as well as of the attempted to hide, threatening to adopted decision, you are entitled to On the day of the explosion of the Ural months prior when the same kind of has happened to my husband. I repre- rights and freedoms of our fellow citi- explode himself and law enforcement address a superior prosecutor's office or truck, of which he is accused, Zurab was armed men had put him in a car and, sent and warrant to you, as President of zens, to get to the bottom of this case agents by means of an explosive device. to the Magass District Court in accor- not at home. He had gone to Rostov to locking him in a cell, tortured him for the Russian Federation, that my husband and punish those who under contrived During his pursuit, K. Esmurziyev was dance with established procedure. get a car. We have call records from his ten days. They tried to 'beat' the neces- was never involved with the insurgents pretexts and assumptions, for the sake cornered on the premises of house No. 3 cell phone and a notarized letter of sary information out of him, but not get- and that there was never any explosives of private gain and stars on their located at the following address: 11a "Deputy Prosecutor for the City of attorney from the car's seller. ting anything, finally let him go ten days or firearms in our house. epaulets, commit crimes, crippling peo- per. Transportniy, Interregional Nasyr- Nazran, M.A.Dobriyev." later. This was how long they needed for ple, taking their life, and leaving their Kortskniy, Nazran. The suspect "Under pressure, our son refused a the traces of torture (hematomas on his "In my turn, I am loath to insult honest children orphans!" responded negatively to the police Currently Khasan Esmurziyev is in the lawyer and incriminated himself. 'I body) to vanish. Having released soldiers who are sacredly fulfilling their agents' repeated demands for his sur- special ward at the Nazran Central have a sick heart; I won't survive tor- Khasan, they warned him to keep his debt to their motherland. However, I "Honorable Mr. Yevkurov! I assure you render, displaying an object in his hand Republican Hospital. ture. If you want it, I'll claim responsi- 'mouth shut' and not file any com- must say that there are among them that I would not turn to you if I even that resembled a grenade and threat- bility for the September 11 terror act plaints. As mentioned above, this took ignoble monsters who are ready to sac- slightly suspected my husband of the ening to explode himself and the police "The bones of his wrist have been frac- in America,' my son told the detectives. place three months ago. rifice their honor for the sake of profit crime he is incriminated in. agents. Following which, one of the law tured by a blunt instrument," says and fame. But it is immoral to strive for Respectfully yours, Rumina Kodzoyeva, enforcement agents, during an attempt Rumina. "The webbing between his fin- "Having ascertained that our son is "As soon as he made for the neighboring this, scorning the tears and sorrow of as well as the numerous witnesses to on the part of K. Esmurziyev to gers is torn and he cannot hear well. He innocent, we have renewed our agree- street, the armed men took off after him such women and mothers as myself! this crime: approach him, employed his authorized had one operation, another remains. ment with a lawyer."

6 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 7 THE LEGAL PROCESS THE LEGAL PROCESS

RUSLAN ZHADAYEV completely confirmed: both in terms of This is all taking place against a back- the quantity and the "quality" of the ground of popular wrath about the WAR HERO OR persons involved. The detainee escort "impunity" of Rasul Mirzayev, against a guards were lying. Yusup was telling the background of hate toward everything truth. And you know what? The detec- Caucasian and, especially, Chechen, UNREPENTANT tive refused to initiate a criminal inves- which any one of us senses in Moscow tigation. with every fiber of our bodies. Even inside the court building you feel like CRIMINAL? Currently, the refusal decision has been you're behind enemy lines. Only your revoked by the prosecutor, and an colleagues come up to you to sympa- additional internal investigation has thize: such a case, they say, in such a A trial is getting underway in Moscow over the June 2011 murder of former-Colonel cameras and there would be no prob- been scheduled. time... Yuri Budanov, who spent eight years in prison for the rape and murder of a Chechen lem with assessing our claim. We turned to the court with the pertinent request. 3. The case of Budanov's murder itself, What can I say in response? "The camel schoolgirl. The suspect in Budanov's murder is the Chechen Republic citizen Yusup The detective charged with the assess- as you no doubt know, went to court. has two humps because life is a trial." Temerkhanov, who detectives claim, shot the ex-colonel as revenge for his father, ment requested the footage as well. We Last Friday we were selecting jurors. It burned alive by Federal forces in 2000. didn't have to wait long for a response: turned out that by way of "random The murder of ex-Colonel Budanov "The room in which Y. Temerkhanov computer selection" the Moscow City was so highly-publicized because it was searched was not outfitted with a Court assigned us fifty jury candidates. concerned a person who became According to the investigation, at criminal case, there is nothing strange torturers slipped up and applied the so- camera." Number 1 on the candidates' list (of "famous" through the abduction, rape, around noon on June 10, 2011, Yusup about this.) Naturally we appealed this called "handcuffs stretch" to him, com- course, randomly) turned out to be a and strangulation of 18-year-old Temerkhanov fired several bullets from ruling all the way up to a cassation, but bining it with other "rides" (asphyxia- We became curious as to what room former Russian Navy commander (I Chechen citizen Elza Kungayeva in a pistol into Yuri Budanov, who had it was in vain. tion, electrocution etc.). This torture left this was and why exactly it had no won't mention his last name — his rank, March 2000. For this crime he was emerged from a notarial office on the deep wounds on Yusup's hands, which cameras. It turned out that the room in I believe, was that of a lieutenant gener- convicted and sentenced to ten years capital's Komsomolsk Prospekt. Two of Meanwhile, this abduction, just as the took several months to heal and left question was the deposition room! al). To this individual's credit, it should of incarceration, of which he served the bullets struck Budanov in the head. torture, is a proven matter. We inter- scars. Although the detective delayed the be pointed out that he announced his only eight. He was released on parole viewed the concierge in Yusup's house, medical examination and the After that, out of nowhere, three milk- self-disqualification, saying that he had in 2009. While Budanov's trial was Following this, Mr. Temerkhanov fled the groundskeepers, the neighbors — all medicolegal investigation for a long sops in blue police uniforms came to the served in Chechnya, knew Budanov, underway, while he was serving his the scene of the murder in a foreign of them claimed that on August 19, time, nonetheless in the end the expert's detective and announced that it was and therefore could be biased. sentence in the penal colony, as well as car. The automobile was later discov- 2011, he walked out of his house to conclusion included the presence of the they who had coerced Yusup and, now, a year after his death, quite a few ered half-burned a few blocks from return only on August 26 clapped in aforementioned wounds. what's more, had done so legally. Today we had our first apposite court in Russia considered and consider him the scene of the crime, but the detec- handcuffs and barely walking. We Moreover, the milksops claimed that no session. The judge conducts himself like... a "victim," a "true combat officer," and tives supposedly found irrefutable evi- found the taxi driver who picked up All of these circumstances were ignored one else was present at Yusup's search. a judge of Moscow City Court: baseless a "hero," who was "made to suffer over dence attesting to Yusup Yusup from his house on August 19, by the Russian investigatory and judi- attacks against defendants, an evident nothing." However, it's enough to sim- Temerkhanov's involvement in this 2011. The taxi driver explained that as cial agencies. Therefore, a week ago we My client insisted on his version of prejudice to every word and look. ply familiarize oneself with a few offi- crime. This case will be tried by a jury. he was approaching ul. turned to the European Human Rights events: there were no less than seven cial documents and testimonies of Mosfilmovskaya, he was stopped by a Court with a complaint about torture persons in the room, and he was beaten No less than five or six Moscow people who knew Budanov for this The defendant's lawyer, Murad patrol car. When he approached the and inhumane treatment, as well as the not by milksops in blue uniforms, but by Criminal Investigation Department shining paragon of a "courageous offi- Musayev, wrote about how this case's Road Patrol Service inspector someone lack of an effective investigation into two, 120 kg meatheads dressed in black agents come to every court session. One cer" and "the doom of Chechen insur- investigation is being conducted. This grabbed him from behind, bent him these facts. The complaint is supported SWAT uniforms and boots. Thus, we had of them had to be removed from the gents" to begin to fade and give way to is not simply a legal report — this is over the hood and yelled, "Organized by the advocatory investigation and we a contradiction. courtroom today because we are plan- a completely different portrait — that also a landmark document. Crime Unit, remain lying like this for five believe that it will be upheld. It is only a ning to examine our friends the police of a sadistic war criminal. minutes, then go home and keep quiet!" matter of time. We demanded to see the footage from as witnesses in the future. The rest of 1. Our claim about the illegal detention He heard screams and noise, after the surveillance cameras installed in them waste time in the courtroom's Here, for example, is the transcript of of Yusup-Khadzhi Temerkhanov and his which the patrol car and several others 2. The internal investigation to our the hallway to the detainee room: if hallway, performing "operational an interview with Valery Gerasimov, a torture by the Main Investigative departed with his passenger. claim that Yusup had been attacked in there were seven people in the room, escort" for the case at trial — it is in my sometime direct superior to Budanov. Directorate of Russia for Moscow was the detainee holding rooms of Moscow including SWAT agents, then all of them view, a total mockery of criminal-pro- Not long ago, he became Commander met with a ruling denying an initiation Yusup was tortured professionally: they City Court lasted 30 days — despite the must have come through the door in the cedural law. Meanwhile, before and of the General Staff of the Russian of a criminal investigation. beat his heels and kidneys. They stran- fact that in the very beginning of this hallway instead of the ventilation shafts. after the session, these people obviously Armed Forces. (Considering that the internal investi- gled him in various ways and electro- affair, the court representative claimed act as the main tools for the prosecuting gation was entrusted to the same cuted him. None of these tortures leave that of course the detainee holding The detective watched the hallway sur- side — in witness preparation, in the "Interview transcript of witness — agency that was investigating Yusup's visible traces. However, after a while the rooms were outfitted with surveillance veillance footage. Yusup's testimony was "processing" of jurors etc. injured party. Vladikavkaz. On

8 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 9 THE LEGAL PROCESS THE LEGAL PROCESS

November 8, 2000, in the Office of the since I had received news that some willed commander, though there were Interview transcript of Valery Gerasimov (in photo), the sometime direct superior of Budanov, currently the Commander Military Prosecutor, Deputy Military people (100–150) had gathered in the cases of harshness to his subordinates, of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. Prosecutor for the Vladikavkaz village center, demanding the return of needless shouting. I do not know Garrison, Lieutenant Colonel of Justice, the young woman and the release of the Fedorov well, but based on what I saw T. Arumyunyan, conducted an inter- guilty parties. on March 27–28, I can say that he is view under Sections 158 and 160 of the not a completely sane person. RSFSR Criminal Procedure Code with "In the village, where the populace had the following witness: Valery Gerasimov. gathered, we were met by the woman's "The 160th had been ordered to the father. I spoke with him separately, locality of the Tanga village to guard "By request of Witness Gerasimov, he assuring him that we would find the and defend themselves there. The was given the opportunity to compose criminals and return the woman. I reconnaissance unit was ordered to his testimony in his own hand." Below asked him to address the gathering and conduct reconnaissance — that is, follow six handwritten pages written ask them to disperse to their houses. He search measures. The order was issued personally by General Gerasimov (who did as I requested. by the commander of the western was at the time commanding the deployment (I personally performed Federal Forces Grouping Zapad, in the "From the explanations given by the these duties from March 5 to April 20). absence of the furloughed General woman's father and uncle, it emerged Vladimir Shamanov). With military pre- that during the night, a colonel with "No orders were given for any actions cision, Gerasimov relates the following: some soldiers had come to the village in within the Tanga urban center. an APC, burst into the house, wrapped Moreover, I forbade any soldiers from "At 900 hours, on March 27, 2000, at a the woman in a quilt, and driven her even showing up in urban centers (with problem resolution meeting, the com- off. They know this colonel; he was the the exception of the police, OMON, and mandant for the Urus-Martanovsky commander of the armored regiment. FSB). District, Major General Y. Naumov reported to me that a young woman "Initially, Verbitsky and I did not believe "While alternatives were being consid- had vanished in the village of Tanga and this. Upon returning to the regiment ered, instructions for heightened securi- that the suspected parties were soldiers. from the village, I could not find ty went out in oral and written Budanov. According to the report of the (telegram) forms to all the commands, "I called the commanders of the three executive officer, he had gone off to including the 160th. Orders for the regiments stationed near Tanga — Col. Khankala, supposedly to meet a com- detection and apprehension of snipers, "I personally examined Budanov's box rounds. Everything was done very rap- had been used to go to the village that Yudin of the 245th Motorized Rifle mission from the Siberian Military insurgents and their accomplices specif- van. On March 27, it was in complete idly. One of the army officers started night) confessed that he had driven out Regiment, Col. Budanov of the 160th Command. There was no commission. I ically in the Tanga urban center, were order — laundered clothes, everything yelling at them. Budanov also shouted the previous night and told me every- Armored Regiment, and Col. Petrov of ordered a helicopter to Khankala to not issued. washed and cleaned. There was noth- to Fedorov to stop and lead the scouts thing. the 752nd Motorized Rifle Regiment — arrest Budanov and sent a car with an ing out of place in there, only Budanov's away. Afterward, Gen. Verbitsky and I and ordered them to, within 30 min- officer after him. Later it turned out that "Budanov's and Fedorov's verification of personal items and clothes. I saw nei- conversed with Budanov in the com- "On the morning of March 28, the utes, conduct a search and return the the regiment's executive officer had lied the reconnaissance company's combat ther a photo album nor a Polaroid mand center tent. I made no accusa- corpse was unearthed and taken to the young woman. Gen. Verbitsky and I to me about the license number of readiness were unsatisfactory, first of all, photo. I did not accuse Budanov of the tions. Our conversation passed peace- medical battalion. A forensic examina- rode out for the 245th MRR, but along Budanov's car. After three hours, because both men were inebriated. rape of citizen Kungayeva after lunch fully. Following this, Budanov was taken tion was conducted. The corpse was the way changed course for the 160th Budanov himself showed up. During my on March 27. in a medical vehicle to the medical and washed and returned to the parents. We AR (I was planning on visiting all three meeting with him, he drew his pistol "The combined force received no cate- sanitary battalion, and from there to went to the village again for the funeral, regiments, since I didn't know for sure and shot himself in the leg. gorical prohibition against firing upon "Coming back to the beginning of my Khankala. along with General Colonel Baranov, which soldiers abducted the girl). the urban centers. In the event that, clarification, when Budanov appeared the then combined force commander. "Concerning the characters of Budanov during combat operations, a house in (March 27) and shot himself in the leg, I, "Then, I lined up the regiment. Stripping We spoke with the people and assured "At the 160th AR subdivision, I was met and Fedorov. As regiment commander, an urban center was identified as one being beside him, ordered the army offi- the executive officer of his duties as them that the courts would determine by the regiment's commander, Col. Budanov managed his responsibilities from which our units were being fired cers (there were 6–7 officers with me) deputy for morale building activities, I everything objectively and that the Budanov. He reported that everything during combat operations in Chechnya. upon — then in that event, of course, to disarm and arrest Budanov. Two offi- transferred these duties to the regi- guilty would be punished. in the regiment was normal. I asked The 160th Armored Regiment never that house would be subjected to fire. cers began to approach him when the ment's deputy commander for arma- whether he had found anything out acted at full strength. Its units would But these cases numbered in the single regiment's reconnaissance company ment (the only deputy who did not "In the evening of March 27, the APC's about the young woman. He replied reinforce other regiments. A core digits. Normally, urban centers were ran up headed by Fedorov. They encir- drink with Budanov). mechanic-driver told me how they that as of yet nothing was known. remained in the regiment that consisted never fired upon. There were no com- cled us, separating us from Budanov, brought the woman and dragged her Ordering him to continue the search, of several servicing and logistics units. plaints concerning a firing upon a and pointed their weapons at me, tak- "Toward evening, a soldier who was the into Budanov's box van. An hour and a Gen. Verbitsky and I traveled to Tanga, Budanov can be described as a strong- house in Tanga. ing them off safety and chambering mechanic-driver of the APC-C2 (which half later, Budanov called two soldiers

10 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 11 THE LEGAL PROCESS THE LEGAL PROCESS

to him (not the mechanic-driver — of their parents' whereabouts, the brought to the unit's location, the stood very well what awaits rapists like It is also worth mentioning that the Perm OMON agents. Today, few other ones who had also accompanied older girl replied that she did not woman, who had just turned eighteen, him in the colony. Then again, it is medical examiners had varying opin- remember that at the end of March him to the village); at the time, the know. Then, I ordered my subordinates was left alone with a drunken muscle- hard to call the eight years he spent ions about Budanov's criminal sanity. 2000, the Chechen field commander woman was still living. Twenty to thirty to wrap the older girl in a quilt and head who weighed more than 100 kg behind bars a "punishment." Budanov In the end, the psychiatrists agreed Shamil Basayev offered nine Perm minutes passed before Budanov called take her to the car, which they did. and was a candidate master of Sambo. was incarcerated in the Ulyanovsk that Budanov was insane only while OMON agents — captured by the again. The woman was dead. Budanov After this, we brought her to the regi- And she threatens him with violence Region (whose governor at that time committing the crime, after which he insurgents in the Vedensky Gorge — ordered the corpse taken away and ment's location (the Chechen girl, — and even gets into a fight with him! was his "comrade in arms" General returned to a normal state. Basically in exchange for Budanov, and threat- buried. Which they did. wrapped in a rug, was carried into the Vladimir Shamanov, who also became this means that a regiment command- ened to shoot the former in the event box van). I ordered my subordinates to Currently, certain jingoists write that famous in Chechnya through his sav- er with the rank of colonel, a knight of his offer was declined. Naturally no "I have no doubts that Kungayeva was remain outside. I had information that Yuri Budanov "was a servant to the agery and cruelty toward the civil pop- the Order of Courage, goes insane for a exchange was made and the captives killed and raped by Budanov. her mother was a sniper. Left one-on- Tsar, a father to the soldiers," "was the ulation). There, he managed the gym period of time and then goes back to were killed. one, I asked her where her mother doom of insurgents," "personally took and had no limitations to his visitors, being a normal person. Such are the "From the hand of Major General was. She began to scream, bite, and try part in offensives," "dragged the telephone conversations, and so on. idiosyncrasies of domestic Russian law. No matter how they try to whitewash (signature) V. Gerasimov. to break free. I had to apply force. A wounded from the field of battle," and Budanov, regardless of what they say "November 9, 2000. struggle ensued in the course of which other gibberish. Some recall something "Everyone knew that Budanov had It really is very hard to say with any about him, the truth is that Yuri "Questioned by (signature) I tore her shirt and brassiere. I told her entirely different: "In Chechnya, raped that Chechen girl — it's stupid to certainty whether or not Budanov was Budanov is a criminal who never T. Arumyunyan." to calm down, but she continued to Budanov did not consider us recruits deny the obvious. This was probably criminally sane — especially if we con- showed any remorse for his crimes. yell and try to break free. Then, I was as human. He passed us without every why they kept him in solitary confine- sider his lesser known "feats" in And in the end, he ended his life like General Gerasimov wrote openly what forced to throw her on the couch and saying hello. He treated us like live- ment for such a long time — there's no Chechnya. After all, this is the same a common criminal too — shot as in the court did not announce later on. begin strangling her. I strangled her at stock — he could throw an ashtray at a ceremony when it comes to people Yuri Budanov who is implicated in the a D-list gangster flick on a Moscow Namely, Budanov abducted, raped, and her throat... I did not remove the lower person or kick them over nothing. I like him in the colony. Later, he was illegal detention and subsequent street. killed the victim, and then ordered the part of her clothes.... I called my crew, remember what he would say when he transferred to gen pop, where he extralegal execution of several corpse to be hidden. That is, the "hero ordered them to wrap her in a quilt, was angry: 'I'll bury you alive in the for- behaved like a lout. If he needed to Chechen citizens in the Argunsk P.S. On November 24, 2011, in the colonel" acted like a bandit, rapist, drive her out to a wooded area and est; your own mother won't find you.' fight, he fought without hesitation — Gorge. And it was this same "combat courtyard of house No. 38 on sadist and criminal — not at all like a bury her there. The crew did as I com- And, you know, we never doubted that psychologically he was clearly not officer" Budanov who, during another Komsomolsk prospekt in Moscow, at the combat officer following orders for manded. I am attaching a scheme to he was capable of it. His cruelty knew alright. Behind bars, Budanov was nervous breakdown, almost killed sev- site of ex-Colonel Yuri Budanov's mur- the establishment of the "constitution- my acknowledgment of guilt... I simply no bounds. When the commander courageous because he knew that the eral of his subordinates by tossing a der, a commemorative plate was al order." There were no women- wanted to discover the location of her drank, we tried to stay out of his sight. administration would always look out hand grenade into the potbelly stove installed. The following inscription was snipers in Tanga-Chu, nor did anyone parents. April 28, 2000. Budanov." Of course, no one celebrated his death, for him." These are the words of one of of an officers tent — just to check their engraved upon it: "On this spot on June from this village shoot at the place of but no one felt any particular sorrow the ex-colonel's fellow inmates. "battle-readiness." It was also he who, 10, 2011, Colonel of the Guard, Yuri deployment of Budanov's regiment, Initially Budanov claimed in court that either. So, judge for yourselves why the along with his executive officer, Budanov, was treacherously killed. and, in general, Budanov had no right the sniper who had shot up almost people refuse to talk about him," says However, even during the trial Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Fedorov — He gave his life to his motherland, to enter this urban center. half of his entire regiment — and did one of Budanov's former subordinates. Budanov behaved aggressively and another unstable person — would beat his honor to no one." so always aiming for their eyes — was cockily. This was thanks to the afore- up the commander of the 160th And here is the testimony of Yuri his victim's mother, Roza Boshayeva. During the trial, Yuri Budanov wrig- mentioned Shamanov, who would Armored Regiment's reconnaissance By the way, the plate's installation is not Budanov himself: However, the elderly disabled woman gled and wheedled. He denied the come to the North-Caucasus Military company, Roman Bagreyev for refus- approved by the municipal authorities; in no way conformed to the image of a accusation of rape, announcing that District Court, greet his former subor- ing to follow the drunken command- accordingly, its installation is illegal. "To the Military Prosecutor for the cold-hearted assassin with a sniper he was impotent. He explained that he dinate with a handshake, and ers' orders to bombard Tanga-Chu vil- North Caucasus Military District. rifle in her hands. And so after half a had been naked in the box van demand that the press "keep its dirty lage with self-propelled artillery. It was Acknowledgment of guilt. year, Budanov began to claim that the because it was hot. The fact that dur- paws off this Russian soldier and offi- Budanov who on New Year's night in sniper had been Elza Kungayeva her- ing the "questioning" of the young cer." Budanov told Abdulla 2000, clearly enjoying himself in front "I, Yuri Budanov, would like to whole- self. Further, he went to the point of woman he had turned on the music at Khamsayev, the Kungayevs' lawyer, of the cameras, gave the order to "fire heartedly repent for what was done claiming in court that the woman full volume, he explained simply as, "I "You, old man, will be dead when I upon previously designated targets" and communicate the following. On "who had been brought in for ques- felt like it." The fact that his victim had come to take care of your people." To and added, "Merry Christmas," not for March 26, 2000, at 2350 hours, I called tioning" was threatening "to wrap the been naked, he explained by claiming this the lawyer responded, "You won't a second considering how out of place my APC's crew and ordered them to go entrails of his daughter onto her rifle," that he had struggled with her after see my death until you bear the pun- and ridiculous this piece of bravado with me to Tanga Chu, with the goal of cursing, trying to snatch his sidearm, she had tried to take his weapon, and ishment you deserve." Budanov's wish looked in Chechnya where urban cen- destroying or capturing a woman- and generally conducting herself very in so doing they had ripped off one to "counter-terrorize" Chechnya one ters and peaceful citizens were being sniper... The house contained two aggressively. He did not even remem- another's upper garments. It is wholly more time, luckily, did not come to annihilated. young women and two teenage boys. ber strangling her. Only the simple- understandable why Budanov stub- pass. First he spent eight years in [Again, no mention of the imaginary minded or a zombie is capable of bornly denied raping his victim, espe- prison, and two years after his release Beside all this, Yuri Budanov has on his woman-sniper — Ed.] To the question believing such nonsense. Having been cially in a depraved manner. He under- he was killed. conscience the deaths of at least nine

12 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 13 PROTECTING WOMEN PROTECTING WOMEN

"If it were between countries, we'd call it a war. If it were a disease, we'd call it an epidemic. If it were an oil spill, we'd call it a disaster. But it is happening to women, and it's just an everyday affair."

— Michael Kaufman, founder of the White Ribbon International Men's Movement. MARKHA ARTAKHANOVA FROM PEACE AT HOME TO Every year, between 700 and 1,000 Considering this to be a family affair, stration of psychological techniques women subjected to gender violence we prefer not to get involved; howev- for providing psychological and social PEACE AROUND THE WORLD — at home or at work — turn to er, statistics show that tens of thou- support for the victims of violence." Sintem. That said, domestic violence sands of women die from the hands of We invite representatives from non- cases are much more numerous, and men who are "close" to them. And no profit organizations, teachers, stu- "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence" the violence takes on diverse forms one knows how many women could dents, and women who have suffered and degrees of aggression. It is unfor- have saved their lives, health, and from gender violence to attend this Modern society has endured signifi- about this topic. Afterward, we began untended hands. She is afraid to raise tunate, but many women do not con- worth within the family, if those workshop. cant changes in the economic, politi- to take part in the action routinely: her eyes to look at me... She married for sider slaps, kicks, thrown things, or around them did not prefer to look cal, environmental and social spheres. every year, from November 25 to love and continues to live with him raised voices to be indicators of vio- away. We are especially proud of the Living Computers and technology are con- December 10, Sintem holds various because she is married. The house is lence but instead tolerable forms of Women's Portrait Campaign, conduct- stantly accelerating our lives, thereby events dedicated to preventing all constantly full of her husband's friends. interaction. "One needs no little talent to spend an ed under the aegis of the White intensifying psychological tension. types of violence against women. Sometimes, they all drink together. entire life together and end up sick to Ribbon international men's move- These, as well as other reasons, Maryam's husband often raises his hand This is partially due to gender stereo- death of one another," Robert Louis ment. inevitably lead to a rise in violence, We are active participants in this cam- against her, but she is already used to types widely held in the social con- Stevenson said in his time. To add to one of the most dangerous trends in paign because we believe that violence this — all kinds of things happen in sciousness. These prescribe women this, the knowledge of how to live in Gender violence is a self-sustaining the world according to specialists. is inherently evil — it destroys, debases, families... Maryam forgives her husband certain models of behavior and the world with other people and to and significant problem that cannot exploits and suppresses its victims. The for the beatings because she considers endow women with a required assort- create around oneself space that is free be solved at the level of individual The Chechen Regional Non- belief that violence is endemic to only herself guilty of his aggression. She ment of individual qualities (sub- from violence and psychological pres- families or organizations. Its solution Governmental Organization Sintem deprived families is an unfounded hopes each time that it won't happen servience, patience, meekness in the sure, must be taught systematically and requires the coordinated efforts of regularly participates in the stereotype. Violence exists in families again. She is ready to bear it, to stay face of humiliation). Curiously long before the first warning signs governmental and non-governmental International 16 Days of Activism across all layers of society, regardless of silent and hope that he will improve. enough, women themselves often appear. organizations, law enforcement, coun- Against Gender Violence Campaign, as their cultural, religious, or socio-eco- The most horrible thing in this situation provoke the creation of these stereo- selors, and social workers. An appraisal well as the White Ribbon International nomic status. is that Maryam's bully is her husband — types in society. Five years of fighting violence is no of the full scale and complexity of this Men's Movement, held annually from the only person who is close to her (she short time. Over these years, we have terrible social phenomenon is November 25 to December 10. According to data from the National has no friends since he forbade her to Psychologists at CRNGO Sintem con- planned and held many events across impaired by a lack of information Center for the Prevention of Violence socialize with them; her parents merely stantly deal with women who have the Republic: a composition contest about the degree of its ubiquity, its In 2012, the 16 Days of Activism ANNA, fourteen thousand women fall repeat, "You got married, now bear it," lived through traumas, humiliations, for older students on the topic "Peace causes, as well as legislative gaps. Against Gender Violence Campaign was victim to domestic violence every year so she doesn't tell them anything but beatings, rights' impairments, self-dep- in the house — peace around the conducted for the 21st time. Over the in Russia. More than 650,000 are sub- cries softly and avoids going out in pub- recation, and insults to their dignity. world"; meetings between officials and Therefore, in the modern world, the years, thousands of organizations from jected to systematic beatings by their lic until the bruises go away). The situa- Statistics constantly reflect data about various layers of society; screenings problems of gender inequality in gen- more than eighty countries have taken husband, partner, or relative of the tion is complicated by the fact that women who feel defenseless at their and discussions of films; a Forum eral and gender violence in particular, part. It is not without some pride that "stronger" sex. This reflects devastat- their children also suffer — they love own homes and among their own Theater production; and screenings of require an integrated solution for psy- our organization announces that we ingly on women's and girls' emotional both of their parents... families. social clips. And this is only a partial chological, educational, legal, and have been among their number for and physical states. list of what we have done for the pre- social challenges. Only combining our five years now. This woman's story is one of many simi- But even this data cannot be trusted vention of violence against women efforts will we be able to develop the I have before me Maryam, a thin, scared lar ones which, unfortunately, frequent- since, as research shows, many women and in support of harmonious, con- necessary, practical measures for pre- Our organization announced its par- woman of uncertain age. She fiddles ly occur in our society. This is also a keep quiet about violence within the flict-less family relations. venting violence against women and ticipation for the first time in 2008, the anxiously with a handkerchief, not vivid example of how violence destroys family due to not wishing to "air their By now it is an annual tradition for us girls and for rehabilitating those who same year that we held a round table knowing what to do with her dry, the lives of women and children. dirty laundry." to hold a workshop we call "A demon- have suffered therefrom.

14 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 15 THE FACE OF WAR THE FACE OF WAR

MARIA KATYSHEVA One of the darkest pages in the Second Chechen War was the STORIES February 5, 2000, massacre of the peaceful villagers of Aldi by INVENTED BY LIFE OMON forces from St. Petersburg. This punitive action — in the course of which more than fifty Aldis died, among them women, children and senior citizens — in effect became the personifica- tion of the so-called Second Chechen War.

It is also one of the most convincing interest is the war in Chechnya. It To avoid blaming each other, but to confirmations of just how nearsighted accords special attention to the bloody understand and forgive one another — politicians who make fateful decisions episode in Aldi. Why, you ask? Because this was the subject of a recent event can be. Also identifiable in this event is the organization's associates are St. organized by the House of Peace and the utter absence of competence on Petersburg natives who love their Non-violence in St. Petersburg. It was a the part of a multitude of domestic native city and are ashamed of their fel- peacemaking meeting between issues specialists and the helplessness lows' actions. They do everything they women of various nationalities, whose of human rights organizations whose can to wash this shameful stain from fates had been inalienably tied to the voice has for decades now remained the name of their wonderful Northern Chechen land. The participants includ- simply empty noise for law enforce- Capital. They do not want people in ed an archivist, a librarian, an artist, ment. Chechnya to shudder or feel a chill of teachers, and representatives of non- horror at the words "St. Petersburg." governmental organizations. Each Nevertheless, there are people who They want St. Petersburg to be associat- woman told of what she had lived feel the pain of others as keenly as ed in Chechen minds not with OMON, through, of her losses and her pain. their own. They cannot remain apa- but with the Hermitage, the Peterhof, And it turned out that all of them had thetic when injustice happens right the beauty of the architecture, the the same experiences, losses, and hurts. beside them. They sound all the bells wealth of its culture, and the hospitality And thus, empathy was born, as well as and demand the cessation of lawless- of its inhabitants. It was with this in the understanding that though the ness. Such people were always incon- mind that they sought the opportunity wounds might be different, the scars venient for those in power. They are to host children from the village of will never heal for those who bore the either swatted away like annoying Aldi. They organized a website dedicat- brunt of those complicated years. insects or punished for being to con- ed to this mission. They began to regu- scientious. For, "up above," where the larly conduct training sessions and There were confessions. There were global issues that demand a special seminars for school children, their par- shared tears and even at times friendly responsibility are being resolved, these ents and teachers, as well as art con- laughter. The DOSH correspondent's issues are frequently examined from tests aimed at forming interethnic cul- voice recorder captured many stories the perspective of corporate or special tural learning. They set out to disman- from the war years as well as the pre- interests. Whole institutions are work- tle the prejudices between people of war period (beginning in the 90s). We ing and great sacrifices are being made different faiths and ethnicities. would have liked to publish everything to benefit the mighty of this world. but unfortunately cannot do so at the Aside from this, they wish to build moment. Therefore, on yet another But the "inconvenient" go on with their bridges between people of different anniversary of the Chechen campaign's inconvenient-but-necessary work of ethnicities — people who during the beginning, paying tribute to the memo- restoring justice, to the extent that Chechen conflict, willingly or not, ry of its victims, we decided to print their abilities allow. Such is the St. ended up in different positions — in only some of the recollections — those Petersburg-based, Regional Public different, as they say, camps — but which are directly related to the war. It Human Rights Organization House of who suffered equally. The war reaped a is true that much has already been writ- Peace and Non-violence. Its associates rich harvest here: its victims were both ten on this topic, but it remains inex- focus on the dissemination of informa- Chechens and Russians, as well as haustible. Every new story reveals new tion about nonviolent methods of con- Chechen inhabitants of other ethnici- horizons and illuminates new colors flict resolution — its recurring area of ties. Everyone's wounds hurt equally. and is therefore valuable.

The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 17 THE FACE OF WAR THE FACE OF WAR

retrieve the body. My friend's sister was it down. She called her sister and left Some time later, when it all ended, I mother couldn't move well at all, so literally going insane: she didn't know her to watch his boy. Herself, she went saw Olya and saw her boy. She told me we couldn't make it downstairs. All I what to do. She couldn't go anywhere. to Nazran, sent a telegram to his par- the following story. could do was put the couch in the Later there was a ceasefire and the men ents, and then waited for the reply. She hallway and hope that the wall would began to collect the corpses. The boy let them know when they could come, When Raduyev's forces entered the maybe shelter us from the shrapnel. I had a passport, so they brought him to what and how they had to do things, city, Konya (this is how we called her put her on the couch and lay down in the address. She buried him. About a where to go, so that they wouldn't have ex-beau) was among them. He came the entryway. My mother didn't want month went by. She noticed that her to ask anything of anyone. About two up to the second floor and saw his for- to leave Grozny because all our rela- At the Anna Akhmatova Museum, which provided the meet- younger son was behaving strangely. He or three months later, when things mer love there. Remember how they tives' graves were there. She was born ing's participants with a free tour of the Museum followed by wouldn't eat anything and kept hiding were settling down for a bit, the par- let the first ten women go? That was in Grozny, her mother and grand- a tea reception with the Museum's director and associates. the food in his pockets. The food began ents came. Right at her doorstep they him. He forced them to let them go. He mother as well... to vanish. She started spying on him. He fell on their knees before this woman, apologized variously, saying, "We didn't From Larisa's story: them, and feed them. When she sent would take some food and some water thanking her for saving their son. come to capture a hospital; we were From Sveta's story: the first hundred dollars, it seemed to and go off into the ruins. One evening going after a helicopter field, under When the first tanks entered Grozny me like such a huge sum of money — as he was coming back, she grabbed Then they took their boy. She helped orders from Dudayev, to take these The first bombardment found me in — you should have seen it. Narrow lit- "I will buy so much food," I thought. him: "Where are you going? Tell me!" them smuggle him out. They hired a three helicopters..." These women were Pervomaisk Stanitsa, where I was by tle streets led to the central square. car, spent a ton of money, stuck him in released. And when Raduyev's forces accident. I was confronted with falling How could someone send a tank divi- …There was so much grief on both "I thought," she told me, "that he was the trunk and drove him out like that. were leaving through Pervomaysk, bombs, chaos, thunder. Disarray. sion down those narrow streets? All sides. A woman I knew, Satsita, went to getting into something bad, going off to And when the second campaign Konya was killed while transporting Chechen men running down the those boys there... It was a terrifying, get fuel and left her children in the blow something up. The kids are like began, the parents of this guy (he was the wounded. It was a shocking story. street, simple village guys. And they're horrible picture... They were scattered basement. She picked up a bundle of that after all." He says, "You can beat me, their only son) invited their entire yelling so astonished, "Why are the just like that... And even scarier was firewood and ran home but didn't but you won't change anything." "Tell family — even me, though I was just a From Maria's story: bombs falling? Let's go call Maria that in our heads, in the heads of the make it: a bomb fell right on the base- me the truth," she says. And he replies, friend — invited us all to come stay Ivanova..." Maria Ivanova was the Groznyans, it just didn't register that ment and killed all five of her children. "Over there in the ruins, in the kinder- with them. My friend went. They It wasn't nations that were fighting. I teacher. These were grown men calling we could be killed. But why? It's such a She is now blind and only has one arm. garten's basement, there's a Russian sol- became friends. I was astounded that, know two families from Koshkeldi on a Russian teacher as an authority. tiny little handful of land... And It's very hard for her. At first she didn't dier. He's been sitting there a week having lost a son, she found the who saved a boy from a damaged tank Maria Ivanova comes out, old, with Grachev said, "I will establish constitu- want to live at all. These days we take already. I've been bringing him food." strength to save this Russian boy. in which everyone else had died. They shaking hands, and says, "These are my tional order within 24 hours." Of her out during the holidays, talk her kept him, tended to him and evacuat- students. There aren't any bandits here. course people weren't expecting that into putting on a pretty dress. She "When it got dark," she tells, "we took From Lida's story: ed him. I also know a little soldier from These are my boys, they are good. That the soldiers who were entering as sav- cries: "Why did God take my vision too some clothes that was left from my Tikhvin who was in captivity. The there is a tractor driver. He has eight iors, as helpers, would start killing peo- — otherwise, I could at least look at son and went to those ruins. We went My Russian friend Olya, left with her locals also helped save him. His moth- children. Why are you bombing them?" ple over nothing. the photographs of my children." down to the basement. When he saw husband for Kizlyar in the 90s. She was er brought a million rubles to pay That Russian teacher did more for our that there was a woman with the boy, expecting, and I would go visit her. Raduyev's forces for him, but they did- Russia (not only for Chechnya but for Meanwhile, those boys... I came home They say a soldier isn't responsible — he cowered into a corner and started One day I was on my way home, in n't release him anyway, kept him in the all of Russia) than any one of those and said, "The horror! That poor moth- he is compelled because an order is an shaking." "I'm begging you," he said. Shelkovskaya, when at the Kizlyar cellar and sometimes let him out to ministers had ever done. Maybe those er who saw her child off to the army, order. But no one forced him to cut "Don't hurt me." It turned out that he post, an acquaintance told me: "You meet his mother. "I gave you a million," men will be merciful because she and he, the poor fellow, is lying on the people, to castrate them. The soldiers was about 18 years old too and that he really shouldn't go back and forth like she begged them, "give me my son." taught them what was right, read street, burned, legless, armless." varied as well. When we were running ran away from his unit because they this; better stay at home." I didn't pay The next time she came, there was a Checkhov to them, read them The Because no one would even bury through the alleys with my mother-in- would beat him viciously. He couldn't attention to his words at the time. Two man sitting in the entryway. He said, Prisoner of the Caucasus. them. And his mother would never law, we would come across soldiers, handle it all. He couldn't kill and was days later, I heard that Raduyev had "What was man given legs for?" She got find him. Soldiers all over the place, and we would recoil from them — but mocked for it and insulted. taken Kizlyar. Meanwhile, Olya was the hint, went to the house where she From Satsita's story: covered with whatever was around, they would recoil from us too. about to give birth... was staying, and the hostess with her just enough to keep the dogs from eat- They disguised this soldier and, practi- son drove out the mother and her son. In 1999 the following story happened ing the remains. From Raisa's story: cally crawling so that the neighbors Another important point was that to me. I was going to work at the resi- wouldn't notice, took him home. He around the end of the 80s, a Chechen From Svetlana's story: dential complex. I was a tiny, gaunt girl …My sister had a friend, Sveta My friend has an older sister. When the was in a horrible state — sick and cov- guy had been in love with Olya. But who had come up from the cellar. Vasilchikova, a Jew. She sat through hostilities started, her 18-year-old son ered in lesions. The washed him and they were forbidden from being ...During the war, we could not get out. And as it happens, a guy came up to the thing in a cellar in the center of rushed off for his father (his father lived fed him. They concealed him quite seri- together. She married someone else, My mother was sick. It was very scary. me. I didn't pretend to be anything, town. Then, Israel began to evacuate across town). Crossing the street, he ously: dug a pit under the bed and cov- and he married a Chechen. During the shooting, people would go simply answered his questions the best Jews from the conflict zone. Sveta said was killed by a sniper. This boy was left ered it with boards. No one knew. The down to the basement in the universi- I could. He accompanied me to the that she wouldn't go alone: that she'd lying there for more than a week. It was woman asked for his address, the And here Olya gave birth to a boy in the ty. The basement is huge: all the inhab- library. And came to see me every day. take my three children to Israel, clothe impossible to come close enough to phone number of his parents. He wrote maternity ward of a captured hospital... itants would hide down there. My I did not know what his name was,

18 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 19 THE FACE OF WAR THE FACE OF WAR

I wasn't even interested. The girls in "Lom-Ali would talk about how smart many acquaintances and neighbors ride. There was a woman who lived took place. So she says, "Well, during the library would say, "Your stranger you were, how you read poetry." who had fought in Chechnya. But with my aunt, and during the war she the first campaign I almost died from came by." Later though, I asked after everything was very touching. One girl made friends with my friend. And so we hunger. So at the outset of the second all. His name was Lom-Ali. When they killed him, they found this was from Eisk, and we had no money to enter the house. The guys — Murad and campaign, I pickled so many cucum- photograph in his passport. He found pay for her ticket. So her father — he Aslan — are in camouflage: it's evident bers and tomatoes, and how they saved The military campaign began. I ran to me through the photograph. worked for EMERCOM — who had they're not federals. My aunt's friend me. Imagine dear, I am sitting there the library to load the books and trans- friends who had fought in Chechnya stares at them, then turns to my aunt early one morning and someone rings. port them away from the shooting. And I never saw him in my dreams again. took a vacation. His travel was paid for, and says, "See Galya how interesting life A little, gaunt, hungry insurgent is he showed up too. In camo-fatigues. I and they all came together. turns out: such a thing happened to standing there. He says, 'Grandma, give would come, load up the books and Elena Vilenskaya Furthermore, he said that working on you, and now there's people in your me something to eat.'" She tells all this darkie, don't go out on the street, don't drive them home. I drove about six to (project manager): that essay had been a family activity. house who had been fighting." Then liltingly, playfully. "Well," she says, "I dug try to teach people just because you're seven thousand books out of there. There was another girl whose father she retold what had happened to my around and got some pickles and gave a teacher, they can beat you up." I will When I would run up to the library, my "In School No. 590 in St. Petersburg, had fought in Chechnya: her recollec- aunt. (We don't talk about it with her him some bread. Fed him. Three hours call him today and tell him, "They did- eyes would go every-which-way. I didn't museum activities are well regulated, tions were of how they collected because she is already past seventy and later there's more knocking. Now there n't beat me. Turns out that there are know what to load: I wanted this and and there is space reserved for exhibi- money to bury the officers and how the it's traumatizing for her.) She spent are some little soldiers standing there, those who love and understand." that and there's Jules Verne.... I under- tions. There is a lady in charge there wives went around the apartments to both wars in Grozny as a hypertensive also asking for food. I gave them some stood that I wouldn't be able to save who suggested the following: let's hold do so. On the other side there was a patient. One day she heard a knocking, pickles and tomatoes as well. So they From Lida's presentation: everything. When I came for the last a contest of children's drawings called boy, Yusup, whose parents would travel it was a woman. My aunt opened the kept coming. And they came often. But time... It was already horrible there. He "War in my lifetime," on the topic of to sell cucumbers. At a checkpoint they door and some people in camouflaged I had a lot of tomatoes pickled. I didn't A year ago in Kabardino, three chil- helped me load the books and, saying the war in Chechnya. Honestly, we were directed aside — then, there was uniforms burst in, tied her up, taped her need that many for myself. Only, I kept dren were performing salat beside the goodbye, gave me... a doll. I never saw were surprised: this topic is taboo an explosion and they were killed. We mouth shut, and began to demand thinking: 'I hope they don't come at the Belaya River — a Kabardian, a Lezgian him again. I named the doll Manyasha. everywhere, and here someone's ask- saw that the children understood every- money and gold. But she didn't have same time. They'll shoot each other.' I and a Chechen. The first two had not ing for drawings. Many drawings were thing. There was compassion, under- anything of the kind, and in general should have knocked on wood. There's yet experienced the war, while the Later — I remember it as if it was yes- presented, from Chechen children and standing, pain. One boy kept quiet the there was already nothing left in the a knocking at the door and there they Chechen had. Mika, the Kabardian, terday — it was April 19, 2000. I had a from other regions in Russia, but all of entire time (as we later understood, he apartment... But they kept on making are — these and those. What to do? I says, "If at this moment some insur- dream. In the dream, my Manyasha them dealt with the two wars in was reexamining everything). And his demands. My aunt survived, but what tell them, 'Don't start fighting now. I gents were to emerge from the forest was all mangled, lying beneath a heap Chechnya. Moreover, children would father, a teacher from Tatarstan, told us, she had to live through traumatized her have plenty of cucumbers.' I gave them and say, 'Either we'll kill you or you of bricks. I was trying to pull her out, come to this exhibit on field trips. We "That meeting turned everything upside deeply. It's a very painful topic for her; some pickles. One says, 'You, Ivan, don't come with us to fight.' I would go with digging at the clutter to reach her, but were shocked: the idea itself, a field down for me." All of his neighbors she barely survived. To this day, proba- start shooting until I walk away three them." The Lezgian says, "If they gave she kept being buried under bigger trip for second-graders — it seemed fought in Chechnya. "I will tell every- bly, she is suffering. She cannot hear hundred meters.' And the other replies, me money, I would go too. I wouldn't and bigger rocks. I pull her out — strange that it came from the schools. one," he said. It seems that he did such a about the war or anything related — 'And you, Makhmud, don't start shoot- go for nothing." But the Chechen says, there's only a head, the body's gone. I How could we explain all of this to the good job of it that the next year one of even though, during the war, she took ing until I walk five hundred. After that, "I would let them kill me." "Why?" the wake up. Manyasha is lying beside me. kids? But — aside from one boy who his students — a Russian girl — wrote care of her neighbor and changed his go ahead and shoot.' And pickles I have others ask. "Don't you want revenge?" The next day, April 20, I accidentally asked, "Are these our guys or the the "War diary of a Chechen girl." One dressings. She is a medic and helping aplenty still." The Chechen boy replies, "The Qur'an ran into a women I knew. We worked Germans?" — all of them understood. woman from Chechnya helped us the wounded is holy for her. This, says that if I exact revenge, I will be together. She says, "Do you know what And there was so much compassion, select these essays. She cried so hard despite the fact that her neighbor had From Larisa's story: satisfied with myself, but if I forgive, happened with Lom-Ali?" "No, I don't," such pain on their faces. We read aloud reading the "Diary"; she said, "How been an insurgent. then God will respect me — God will I reply. "He was under Shato, with six an essay by a Chechen boy named keenly she felt everything through; it Today, when we were recalling the pre- accept me." guys. The sat down to warm them- Yusup, whose parents had died, and was all true." Yet, she had never met the From Satsita's story war years, I heard a lot of negative selves when a rocket attack started. one boy began to cry and started Chechen children. One girl from (a true story that resembles things about my people. How we were Those who survived this war, by and Lom-Ali was sitting, warming his feet, screaming, "It's no possible to listen to Volgograd drew the destruction of killing people and capturing apart- large understand that our children and his head was torn off. The body is this!" It hurt him so much. The parents Grozny. We underestimate children, but an anecdote): ments. But the main thing, I think, is understand. If it weren't for the politi- in one piece, but the head is gone, later told us, "Thank you so much for they will probably overcome the dis- In 2001, a very old Russian grandmoth- that when everyone goes home, hav- cians and the mass media, which stoke that's how they buried him, headless..." organizing this exhibit. Our children trust before the adults do. er came up to me in the library. She ing learned of other stories here, they interethnic tensions, understanding didn't know anything about this." said that she had seen the library and will take a speck of something good would be even better. Seven to eight months went by. Some From Natasha's story: came in to make an offer. "I have so away with them. Maybe they will say guy showed up at my library and We wanted the winners of the competi- many books," she says. "Perhaps you'll that not all Chechens are bad, and I'll It is never too late and never too much asked, "Are you Satsita?" "Yes" "I came tion to meet one another. Though, to ...About how people from different sides take them from me? I don't have any be happy that it was a good meeting. to ask for forgiveness. Both for myself, to look at you." And he showed me a tell the truth, there were concerns can meet in one place. My girlfriend use for them." We began to talk. She And I will say at home that not all and for those who cannot ask — who photograph that Lom-Ali took of me because the kids came from Chechnya married a Chechen. I went with her to lived near the tram depot. People from Russians in St. Petersburg hate us. are sorry but cannot say it. And even when I was sitting on a bench in the with grown-ups, as well as adults from my aunt's house in the residential com- Grozny know the terrible events that When I was about to come here, my for those who are not sorry — for residential complex. other regions around Russia, who had plex. Her Chechen relatives gave her a happened there, what terrible battles husband said, "Watch out, you're a those who stuck to their principles.

20 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 21 LOOKING FOR THEM AND WAITING FOR THEM LOOKING FOR THEM AND WAITING FOR THEM

DOSH presents the latest tragic story in its ongoing section, "Looking for Them and Waiting for Them" — about the people who disap- peared during the two wars in Chechnya: beginning in DOSH Issue 4(30) 2010 and continuing in all subsequent issues.

The Nineteenth Story kick and beat them with their rifle They led Isa, Beslan, and Movsar out to the street and began to kick and butts. Inside the house, they made beat them with their rifle butts. Inside the house, they made themselves themselves "at home": they beat the "at home": they beat the women and snatched at everything that was not women and snatched at everything bolted down. Aside from everything valuable, they took with them the "You need to be that was not bolted down. Aside from everything valuable, they took with clothes of the month-year-old granddaughter, as well as the sweets that them the clothes of the month-year- had been prepared for the festival. Isa could barely see through his blood, exterminated!" old granddaughter, as well as the but upon seeing how they were beating Beslan and Movsar, he could not sweets that had been prepared for the bear it; he asked, "What is this for?" Instantly he received a boot to the In the early 2000s, inhabitants of the festival. Isa could barely see through face and heard a voice full of hate: "Bitch! Shut up! What don't you get? Chechen Republic could not sense the his blood, but upon seeing how they Chechens are born bandits! All of you need to be exterminated!" Once passage of time. Over and over again, were beating Beslan and Movsar, he they had finished robbing the house, they went away. They took the beat- they received terrifying news: someone could not bear it; he asked, "What is en and bleeding brothers with them. Covered in blood and unconscious, had been killed, someone wounded, this for?" Instantly he received a boot Isa remained lying in the yard. someone arrested. Most people were to the face and heard a voice full of outside of Chechnya. The refugees hate: "Bitch! Shut up! What don't you located in Ingushetia were constantly get? Chechens are born bandits! All of many times has she awoken at night to On April 2, 2002, in the Urus- darting between that Republic and you need to be exterminated!" Once sob silently into the pillow — how Martanovsky District, the body parts of Chechnya. This was for reasons of life they had finished robbing the house, many times has she addressed Allah, people who had been blown up were and death: the need to find out about they went away. They took the beaten begging for her sons? Only He knows. discovered in the gardens of the relatives, find work, flee the nightmare and bleeding brothers with them. An endless search, incomprehensible Michurin State Farm. Also uncovered called zachistka ("sweeps" or "clean-up Covered in blood and unconscious, Isa threats from the law's guardians, as the at this site were the clothes that the operations"), deliver humanitarian aid remained lying in the yard. one offered by the prosecutor: "Better Khutsayev brothers had been wearing to seniors who did not wish to leave not get involved. They're not joking at the time of their arrest. Even such a their native places, and many others. Everything in the house was busted around with this stuff at the moment." grave fact did not serve as grounds for There were several roads from and broken. The robbers took all the All of it just deepened the family's sor- a serious inquiry. Though, had a Khutsayev Movsar Khutsayev Beslan Chechnya to Ingushetia, both high- documents with them, including row. Not joking around with what? Chechen as much as been suspected, ways and rural routes. The rural routes Movsar's award — he was a wrestler Who are they? Why are warnings like the "guilty party" would have instantly had checkpoints which also checked Ordzhonikidzevskaya Stanitsa with became shorter still — either from the who had won multiple regional and this issued in the prosecutor's office — been "ascertained" and "tried." passports; however, the soldiers here severe trauma. From there, he was bombing or because the fragile day- republican tournaments. Three large, the place people come to file com- were not conscripts and were there- taken by federal forces. In critical con- light fled the cruelty that had become rolled-up rugs were left behind, evi- plaints about their family members' One cannot help but recall the video fore less brutal. They were sometimes dition and on an IV, Rustam was the daily norm for those who caused it. dently forgotten in haste. However, abductions? These questions remain that flooded the markets of Ingushetia. tired and hungry and sent by unac- unlikely to comprehend what was They were late with the preparations they came back for them the next unanswered. Time went on and the The clip shows Chechens, supposedly countable commanders away from the happening. Meanwhile, women tried that night, perhaps because they pre- night. Finding the house empty, they relatives heard nothing. Rustam was captured in Komsomolsk, shuffle federal highways and subsequently heroically to save him from the sol- pared haltingly, only for the sake of turned on a stove burner and threw a found guilty on several counts, though naked and beaten from trucks into from profit. But here too, monstrous diers, while the latter beat them with tradition. They did not know that that lit piece of paper inside. But the wet he did not admit to a single one. But train cars. They cover their nakedness events would occur — the roads were the butts of their rifles. A succession of night another tragedy would visit the paper did not ignite properly and went the fact that he is Chechen is grounds with their arms as soldiers rain blows often mined, and peaceful people and tribulations began for the family. It was family, one much more terrifying than out. This lucky circumstance also saved enough for the judges to render a con- and shouts upon them. It is clear that even the soldiers themselves would December 2001. On the night of what had happened to Rustam. Movsar the neighbors' house from the explo- viction and pass a sentence that the they are being transported to wherever step on the mines. December 15, the Khutsayev family, stepped out into the courtyard and, sion. The heavy burden of family prosecution requests. The relatives it is that they will serve out their sen- residing at 40 ul. Sportivnaya, Gekhi coming back, announced that there responsibility alighted on the shoul- expected nothing else. Since Rustam tences. In the summer of 2001, on one of the Village, was preparing for the Feast of were soldiers out there. Practically at ders of Birlant, the woman of the was taken to the pretrial detention rural roads into Ingushetia, a bus hit a Breaking the Fast — Eid al-Fitr. Their the same time, armed men in camou- house. Many years have gone by since facility, and their two other sons were Everything is monstrous in this story — mine. The result was dead, wounded, mood was far from festive: the war was flaged uniforms burst into the foyer then, but the mother's deep wounds abducted, they understood: all from its beginning to its end. Including terrified women and children. Among underway; Rustam was in pretrial cus- and began to yell, "Passport control! All have not healed. To this day she Chechens are "guilty of something," even that the victims' relatives are the wounded was Rustam Khutsayev. tody; they were surrounded by rubble, the men come out! On the double! remembers every detail from that and in Russia, the law is on the side of forced to relive the horrors of that "That day was the beginning of our sorrow and daily news of someone We'll blow up the house and children! night. The faces of her sons remain the powerful, even if they are iniqui- night as I ask them these inevitable troubles," explains the man's father, Isa dying or being abducted. However, this Out into the yard! On the double! Face before her eyes. They were only chil- tous. The so-called justice system is and unbearable questions which can Khutsayev. "The war was a terrible festival is important to all Muslims, so down on the ground! Hands behind dren, after all — Beslan was 20 and nothing more than an insult. Rustam is only deepen their sorrow — as I speak catastrophe in itself, but our family they decided to prepare some food your back or we blow the house up Movsar was 16. She is tormented by still serving his sentence. Nothing is sincere words that they, most likely, do tragedy began on that day." Rustam and perk themselves up. The winter with the kids!" They led Isa, Beslan, and the same question that earned Isa a known about Beslan and Movsar, not believe. A lump forms in my throat was delivered to the days are very short. In wartime they Movsar out to the street and began to kick to his face: "What is this for?" How except for... from the helplessness.

22 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 23 LOOKING FOR THEM AND WAITING FOR THEM LOOKING FOR THEM AND WAITING FOR THEM

The Twentieth Story The old man ran for a long time, through courtyards of loose snow. He kept running even when he heard the rumble of the departing person- nel carrier. The next morning, not wasting time, Umatkhadzhi began searching for his son. The neighbors had seen the uninvited guests leave "If he's innocent, their APC at another street and head over to the Ibrahimovs'. They had counted 70 people. The first thing Umatkhadzhi did was go to Shirvani he'll come back"? Yasayev, the head of the administration for the Urus-Martanovsky District. Mr. Yasayev heard him out and uttered a phrase that sounded like a sen- tence: "If he's innocent, he'll come back." All these years of searching later, how many official conversations have there been? How many prom- Umatkhadzhi Ibrahimov, born 1938, is boxing match with Muhammad-Ali ises, unclear suppositions and empty, bored looks? How many indefinite, looking for her son, Rizvan Ibrahimov, was being shown on TV. Umatkhadzhi dry, and soulless evasions? Each evasion containing phrases that made born 1977. He clearly remembers the was watching it with everyone else. one want to howl: "Criminal charges have been filed." "Much work has night when his son was abducted from Tamara was tending to the house. The been done." "The implemented measures did not allow us to establish his home on 26 ul. Bezymyannaya, parents, looking at their son, thought corpus 15, Urus-Martan, Urus- about how another difficult day had the location of R. Ibrahimov and the persons involved in the crime." Martanovsky District. The moon shone gone by, but everyone remained alive brightly; it was very light out, and and healthy, which meant that every- nothing suggested disaster. It was the thing was good, and there was hope night of December 28, 2002. The par- that the war would soon be over. ents were happy because Rizvan had Tamara's and Umatkhadzhi's happi- come back from Ingushetia. He had ness, however, was not to last. head of the administration for the Some worked part-time jobs and van- were rumors then that they would been living in Malgobek temporarily, Everything changed instantly. Urus-Martanovsky District. Mr. Yasayev ished tracelessly; others, licking the grab any youth, torture him, and working part-time to survive the war heard him out and uttered a phrase dust from the new boss's boots, ren- demand that he name insurgents. and feed their family. There was nei- The match on the TV had not yet that sounded like a sentence: "If he's dered convictions without trial or Some couldn't take it and would indi- ther habitual family comfort there nor ended when armed men in camou- innocent, he'll come back." All these investigation. "Vanished just like that," cate the innocent — sometimes their Rizvan Ibrahimov home-cooked food, and he was often flaged uniforms burst into the house. years of searching later, how many the old man says measured and calmly. neighbors or relatives. He can only be anxious for his relatives. But there was "Bitches! Get down!" they yelled, beat- official conversations have there been? "No matter how much we searched, pitied." The suffering he survived has no other way out. At home in ing everyone. "On the ground! Face How many promises, unclear supposi- there were no traces." But the more he not embittered Umatkhadzhi. He has Chechnya, Rizvan could not find work. down! We'll blow the house up!" They tions and empty, bored looks? How talks, the more keenly one feels the not forgotten how to pity and even Moreover, it was still a dangerous place tore around the house like wraiths, many indefinite, dry, and soulless eva- depth of his pain. One begins to maybe how to forgive. He understood to live. And so, Rizvan took whatever crushing and breaking everything that him with their rifles' butts. Then they sions? Each evasion containing phrases understand that it is completely a long time ago that those who work came his way in Ingushetia — so got in their way. They brought in a dragged the bloody and bruised man that made one want to howl: "Criminal impossible to feel what he feels, his abducted his son and those for whom long as it paid. This is how they lived. masked man and, pointing at Rizvan, out into the street. Someone barked, charges have been filed." "Much work sorrow. It is only what a parent can "the implemented measures did not Every one of Rizvan's visits was an asked him, "This one?" The man nod- "Get down! If anyone moves, we'll has been done." "The implemented feel. Umatkhadzhi's piercing, wise look allow us to establish the location of R. occasion for celebration. That evening, ded. A storm of blows crashed down blow the house!" For some time, measures did not allow us to establish disconcerts me more and more. But... Ibrahimov and the persons involved in everyone was in a heightened mood. A on Rizvan: they kicked him and beat Umatkhadzhi remained in shock, then, the location of R. Ibrahimov and the despite it, I go on asking questions, try- the committed crime," are effectively jumping up, he rushed out to the street persons involved in the crime." ing to maintain my composure. And accomplices. That a nation's law, set after the abductors. The old man ran Umatkhadzhi remembers how he had he, in the meantime goes on explain- down for all of its citizens, is applied for a long time, through courtyards of rushed that morning to begin search- ing: "Mother couldn't bear it. She took variously. Everything depends on one's loose snow. He kept running even ing for his son — so long as there were ill and died. Now things have gotten ethnicity. In a country where, at that when he heard the rumble of the still tracks in the snow, so long as the really bad." I understand him: the war, time, one could destroy anyone one That evening, everyone was in a heightened mood. A boxing match departing personnel carrier. The next witnesses were still living, healthy, and his son's abduction — his dole had disliked simply based on that person with Muhammad-Ali was being shown on TV. Umatkhadzhi was watching morning, not wasting time, could testify. Everything was for already been too much to stolidly bear being Chechen, there was no justice to it with everyone else. Tamara was tending to the house. The parents, Umatkhadzhi began searching for his naught. He did not know then that no his wife's passing. Again and again ask- be found. The pain of a father who dis- looking at their son, thought about how another difficult day had gone by, son. The neighbors had seen the unin- one would bother to look for Rizvan ing my questions, I drive him to return covered and experienced for himself but everyone remained alive and healthy, which meant that everything vited guests leave their APC at another — that Shirvani Yasayev's words really to a time that he has never really left. the full infamy of a disregard for the was good, and there was hope that the war would soon be over. street and head over to the had been a sentence. That these words Anticipating my next question, law, is immeasurable. Ibrahimovs'. They had counted 70 also echoed the officials' take on what Umatkhadzhi says, "And that person, Tamara's and Umatkhadzhi's happiness, however, was not to last. people. The first thing Umatkhadzhi had happened. War is a difficult trial. who fingered Rizvan that night, was Everything changed instantly. did was go to Shirvani Yasayev, the They survived the best they knew how. simply weak and unfortunate. There

24 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 25 SOCIETY, VALUES SOCIETY, VALUES

conducted a survey of students at a) in Chechnya e) employment and social security Chechen universities, asking the follow- b) in Russia f) other (provide your own answer) TAUS SERGANOVA ing questions: c) abroad We surveyed 1,120 students — 856 1. What do you value most in your life? 3. In your opinion, what areas of life men and 264 women. The survey IN A COUNTRY a) family require qualitative changes in results were as follows: b) education Chechnya and Russia? c) career In our conversations, the surveyed stu- BACK FROM WAR d) work a) education dents explained how they chose b) health care between the various answers. Family 2. Where are you looking to build your c) youth policy remains the most valued thing for On the values of the Chechen youth — survey results future and career? d) national policy everyone because familial relations

In the last few years, the Russian mass Visitors from other regions and Chechnya is first and foremost the media has begun to focus on nations see modern cities, clean streets people who live there, and therefore Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 Chechnya not as an area of postwar and avenues, well-kept, grandiose one wants to recall the wartime reconstruction, but as a republic with a office buildings and complexes, enter- inscription: "People live here!" And it is family at 1st place with 100% in Chechnya — 2% health care — 62% system of governance worthy of emu- tainment centers, restaurants and caf?s what they feel and how they live today lation by the other regions of Russia. at every step, boutiques and supermar- — especially the younger generation, education at 2nd with 72% in Russia — 20% national policy — 57.2% Judging by the results of the kets bursting from international the "children of the war" who are now "Happiness Index of Russian Cities" imports. In general, these sights leave a 18—20 years old — that we set out to work at 3rd with 52% abroad — 78% employment poll — conducted in August 2012 by rosy impression on guests. The locals find out with our survey of Chechen and social security — 47% the NewsEffector Monitoring Agency also seem completely satisfied. Truly, university students. career at 4th with 22% and the Regions of Russia Fund for one cannot help but be happy that the youth policy — 37% Regional Research — the happiest peo- Chechen Republic has transformed so The Interregional Non-Governmental ple live in Grozny. quickly before one's eyes. But Organization Caucasus Initiative Center education — 36.7%

26 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 27 SOCIETY, VALUES SOCIETY, VALUES

The surveyed students consider the “sickest” area in Chechnya and Russia to be health care. Across the Republic, rates of illnesses such as cardio- vascular disease, cancer, and tuberculosis are very high. Many spoke of disease, cancer, and tuberculosis are ing that if they did not go, they would ulace's savings from the Savings Bank the impossibility of obtaining an accurate diagnosis in the Republic: there very high. Many spoke of the impossi- be fired etc. I don't understand why of the Russian Federation. Today, the are hospitals and clinics that have the right equipment, but there are very bility of obtaining an accurate diagno- they waste money on cameras and only thing that's changed is the few qualified doctors. Because of this, many have to travel to other sis in the Republic: there are hospitals everything else. Better they give it to method of stealing — the fact of rob- Russian regions or even abroad, spending the last of their money, or ask and clinics that have the right equip- the people, if they'll put whomever bery itself remains unchanged." ment, but there are very few qualified they want at the head of the country relatives (or acquaintances) for help to get treatment. doctors. Because of this, many have to anyway. I don't understand why they "I believe that Russia can hold fair elec- travel to other Russian regions or even make people suffer... Well, that's proba- tions. Can they happen this year? No, Commenting on the problem of domestic policy in Russia, the youth spoke abroad, spending the last of their bly what politics is. Maybe, sometime because the rules themselves are unfair of our nation becoming half-racist, of the courting of ethnic antipathy by money, or ask relatives (or acquain- we'll have fair elections, but I'm not and undemocratic. But on the whole, various public figures and mass media, of the establishment and operation tances) for help to get treatment. hopeful." Russia is in no way worse than other in Russia of nationalist and fascist organizations. countries. Commenting on the problem of "Newspaper and magazine headlines domestic policy in Russia, the youth frequently talk about fair elections. I "Russia never had and doesn't have "What do you mean what's happening On ethics spoke of our nation becoming half- hear about them every day on televi- actual democracy, so there have never with business in Chechnya in Russia? racist, of the courting of ethnic antipa- sion, but I seriously doubt that today's been fair elections. Before, they were Foreigners aren't welcome and our "In our modern society, emphasis is thy by various public figures and mass generation of Russians have even once unfair in terms of the process itself, countrymen are wrung dry. Many of placed on material enrichment, which media, of the establishment and oper- participated in such an event. now they are unfair not just within the those who want to stay, scale down leads to a decrease in ethical qualities ation in Russia of nationalist and fas- Everyone sees fair elections in Russia as process but also in terms of gaining their business. Last year, for example, and higher values. Therein lies the cist organizations. something unreachable, something access to the process. That is, even if 45.3% of all registered businesses tragedy of contemporary Chechen which existed sometime in the distant there were some fantasy in which they ceased operating. In Russia, no one, society. I would like to provide some excerpts past or even exists to this day but out- would let everyone go on television, regardless of the business one is in, can from these students on various topics. side of the Russian Federation." then, to go through that door, behind feel protected by the law." "When yet another official blurts were always a guarantee of certain which lies that electoral space, they something vapid and absurd into the help, support, and protection in On elections "I believe that fair elections could not would allow only those who have On Education empty space before him, the audience Chechen society. Though, one too must be held in Russia because the condi- demonstrated some kind of loyalty to will applaud, showing a slavish obse- support one's relatives in everything. "A dishonest country cannot hold fair tions for fair elections do not exist — the authorities — all the others would "You can get a quality education in quity. The real problem is that the indi- Many young people understand that elections. I am driven insane whenever that is, a fair electoral system, fair elec- not be registered under various pre- Russia. There are many contemporary vidual has lost his voice, lost his 'I,' lost education is necessary to find work, they gather up people and tell them toral law, and a fair political system. For texts." public figures who were educated in himself in this natural calamity that we support oneself and one's loved ones. It that they must vote for this or that many years now, we have seen only Russia. However, at the same time, call 'modern society.'" is possible that work itself is not yet a party or presidential candidate. That that we are being 'fairly' robbed, under On the freedom to do business there is the perception that education pressing issue for students, but the sen- there is dishonesty. The following hap- various pretexts and without anyone in Russia is too unwieldy. Many unnec- iors are already considering and dis- pened during our elections: they trying to hide it. The robbery started "If we look at our own republic sepa- essary subjects are being taught in the cussing their lives after graduation. forced people to go vote by force, say- back in 1991 with the theft of the pop- rately, then we're in bad shape. We pay schools and undergrad programs. not just taxes but many other levies as While in Europe and America, special- That said, all of those surveyed who well. ists are being trained at the upper lev- imagine their future and careers out- els precisely in those disciplines that side of the Chechen Republic are "How are you supposed to do business will prepare them for their future young men. But to the question of why fairly after that? careers. And thanks to this, their spe- they choose other regions and nations, cialists know their areas extremely almost every one answered that it was "It follows that even if the people have well." due to a lack of prospects in the the opportunity to do business fairly, Republic. Even if they find work, it will the government doesn't let them!" "I believe that no one gets a quality either be unqualified or bureaucratic, education in Chechen or Russian uni- and they will have to play by someone "Either you are honest, or you are rich versities. The thing is that the teaching else's rules or pay serious amounts of — this dilemma is in effect today too. cadres leave something to be desired. money for a "profitable position." The overwhelming majority of There are few places left where good Russians and Chechens simply doesn't teachers remain. Beyond this, high The surveyed students consider the believe in the compatibility of ethical school graduates often enter universi- "sickest" area in Chechnya and Russia norms and business. Everything hinges ties under the assumption that 'I better to be health care. Across the Republic, on profit volume; that is, the scale of get a higher education regardless of rates of illnesses such as cardiovascular the business's operations." what it's in.'"

28 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 29 PAGES OF HISTORY PAGES OF HISTORY

MAIRBEK VATCHAGAEV lation at 200,000 people. This data was — i.e. a decade after the colonization obtained by Capitan Nordenstamm of Chechnya began. between 1832 and 1834 during his HOW WE WERE COUNTED survey of Chechnya. It served as the If we take Bronevskiy's figure as a base foundation of his work, A Brief for calculating population growth, we Military-Statistical Survey of Chechnya. can assume that, under favorable con- On the population numbers during the Basically, this is the first work of such ditions, using Malthusian theory (in rigor about Chechnya. The author per- Transcaucasia, and Persia. In Leipzig, in the 19th century, its results were accu- colonization of Chechnya formed a geographic survey of the 1847, a two volume work was pub- rate), the Chechen population would country; described agriculture in detail; lished on the basis of the materials he have doubled over fifty years — that is, (according to Russian data) touched upon the origins of the gathered during this expedition. if it were not for wars, epidemics, etc. Chechens, their history, and the spread According to Wagner's calculations, in Toward the end of the 1850s then — of religion; conducted a comparative 1843, there were 150,000 people of so, toward the end of the war with Data about the number of Chechens analysis of the Chechen language; either gender in Chechnya. Russia — the population should have (and the North Caucasus' population accurately characterized the military been, in the most conservative of esti- in general) at the turn of the 18th and action and the condition of the We also have data from another travel- mates, 500,000 people of both gen- 19th centuries, is incomplete and Chechen armed forces at the time; and er, the famous orientalist, I. Berezin. ders. However, Berzhe confronts us should therefore be approached with — quite importantly — delineated Between 1845 and 1846, he published with a different figure: toward 1858, caution. "All the numbers concerning their means of communication. material in the Scholarly Notes of the combined population of Chechen the Caucasian population were arrived Kazan University, which would in and Ingush communities, was only at approximately and, one can say, at a These numbers are corroborated by 1852 be published in a single volume, 120,000 people of both genders. glance..., since, the way the highlanders data provided in 1839 by A. Milyutin. Travels through Dagestan and saw it, counting people was pointless By his calculations, the male popula- Transcaucasia. Berezin's calculations If we turn to modern demographic and even sinful: which is why they, tion of Chechnya was from 100,000 to suggested a higher number at the methods for our calculations, then the when they could, resisted a national 150,000 people. beginning of the forties: 250,000 peo- population of Chechnya at the end of census or reported inaccuracies when ple of either gender. the first half of the 19th century, resistance was impossible." The 1842 figures are provided in a should have been approximately map of the Caucasus territory com- On the subject of the Chechen popula- 580,000 people. For example, Count Elmurza posed under the auspices of the tion during active combat operations, Cherkassky noted that in 1720, "there General Staff of the Special Caucasus we can assume that its decline was Comparing this number with Berzhe's are a great number of Chechen peo- In his report of November 7, 1791, source was information provided by Corps. The map's author strove to rather significant. According to A. data, we obtain a difference of 460,000 ples." General I. Gudovich indicates the travelers studying this region relate the religious affiliations of the Berzhe, during the war, Chechnya was people. Here, we must account not number of Chechens to be "no more population to its ethnic composition. a region that lost a vast majority of its only for the number of casualties but than five thousand"; however, the Even the preliminary military depart- This was dictated by the military-polit- population. A. Shakh-Girey points out also for those deceased from natural report allows us to conclude that he is ment data about the number of armed ical situation which ensued as a result that between 1847 and 1860, the causes, as well as the absence of two speaking only of those who live on the Chechens allows us to estimate the of the North Caucasus' colonization. Chechen population decreased more generations' worth of progeny. banks of the Terek in the vicinity of adult male population. The map's scholar, D. Ismail-Zade, than twofold. Unfortunately, neither Mozdok. remarks as follows: "The possible Berzhe nor Shakh-Girey mention Even if we account for a percentage of General K. Knoring indicates in his breadth of the Shamil movement's reli- where they got these numbers from. error that is unavoidable in demograph- It is worth noting that the decades- report of January 16, 1800, that the gious base in the Caucasus — this was ic calculations that deal with varying long, ceaseless combat operations and Chechen peoples could field 10,000 the consideration that, it seems, stood In 1801, S. Bronevskiy provides a num- input data (which is contingent on the epidemics introduced serious correc- armed men. If we assume that every behind an interest toward the local ber of 30,000 steads. If we multiply the method of its calculation), then even in tions to the demographic process. To family would send one armed person, populace's ethno-religious composi- number of steads by the average family this case, the losses of the Chechen peo- this day, the legend that at the end of then by taking into account average tion." Also curious is the classification size (for Chechens this is six persons), ple during Russia's colonization of According to 1756–1757 data from the 17th century, a plague killed half of Chechen family size, we arrive at a num- of the population by its degree of obe- we will come up with roughly 180,000 Chechnya, staggers the mind. the College of International Affairs, the Chechen population, survives ber of approximately 60,000 people. dience to the Russian state: "obedient," people of both genders. there were no more than 2,000 among the populace. "semi-obedient," and "disobedient." P.S. We do not touch upon the popula- Chechens at that time. This data is Special Caucasus Corps Commander The Chechen population in 1833, tion of Chechnya in the modern period most likely referring to the popula- We must underscore that the main Baron G. Rosen, the chief executive The German traveler, geographer, and according to data from the Russian in this issue because this topic is worthy tion in Chechen settlements located source for statistical-demographic data officer for civil and border affairs in naturalist, Moritz Wagner, traveled administration in the Caucasus, was of separate research and a separate near Russian settlements on the Terek was the General Staff of the Special the Caucasus, provides us with 1843 through the littoral regions of the Back 218,000 people. But this is a time of article. We will turn to it in one of the River. Caucasus Corps. Aside from it, another data. He estimates the Chechen popu- Sea, the North Caucasus region, fierce struggle for the Chechen people coming issues of this publication.

30 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 31 HUMAN RIGHTS, LIBERATION HUMAN RIGHTS, LIBERATION

Speak not with sorrow life's meaning. Her first research proj- Having begun her research with fighters had been holding it for three Of fellow travelers ect focused on Sheikh Mansur Chechnya, toward the end of her life, days by then. Intending to blockade the Who in their sojourn (1765–1794), the military and reli- Marie Bennigsen was helping the large enemy within the city boundaries, the Vivified our day: they are no more. gious-political leader of the mountain Chechen diaspora in Europe. Many Russian Army laid siege to it from all Speak gratitude, for once they were. people in the Caucasian War of turned to her for support, knowing sides. The Russians had suffered heavy V. Zhukovsky 1785–1791. that she would not refuse. Sometimes casualties, which pushed to its limits For almost a quarter of a century, these people only knew her name and their hatred of the Chechens — and Marie headed one of the most famous could not pronounce her last name, consequently of us, as well as of Marie magazines of its time, dedicated to but they tried to meet with Marie, hop- whom we were escorting. But she Central Asia — the Central Asian ing for help from this extraordinary remained triumphant: she did not ask, Survey. This publication not only pro- woman who was famous for her mag- she demanded. This made an impres- vided the West with information about nanimity and selflessness. sion on the major who, captivated by the region's republics, which were her daring, smiled and ordered that death stoically. She did not want peo- then part of the Soviet Union, but also Among my personal recollections of Marie Bennigsen and the Chechens ple to feel sorry for her. She said that printed articles about the Soviet her, probably the most vivid impres- escorting her be granted passage. That she had lived a captivating life rich Caucasus. From 1980 to 1990, Marie sion was due to the following episode. day, her fearlessness rescued and per- with experiences and that — now that published a newsletter called the Arriving in Chechnya on March 10, haps saved us all... it was time to say farewell — it was not Central Asia and Caucasus Chronicle. 1996, we found ourselves trapped worth it to think of the bad but only to She authored the monographs between RF MVD and MOD detach- Today, saying farewell to Marie, I want- recall the very best and meaningful. It The Islamic Threat to the Soviet State ments in Grozny (coming from the ed to relate this story. She wanted just MAIRBEK VATCHAGAEV was uncanny, but Marie did not seem (1983, coauthored with A. Bennigsen) Staropromyslovsky District). Marie was this after all. It was her legacy: never to despondent! A born fighter, she offered and The North Caucasus Barrier with us. We were concerned for her submit to despondency. A BLAZE us a vivid example of how one should (1992). These books have not aged; and she for us. Sparring with a major at conduct oneself on the verge of death. they are studied to this day — a testa- a checkpoint, we were expecting them ment to how profoundly the scholar to take us away to the Khankala base OF KINDNESS, Marie was born in Paris on July 29, understood this region's problems. at any moment. This was, without 1944, into the family of Alexander exaggeration, a mortal peril. Suddenly, P.S. The DOSH staff were lucky and flattered by Bennigsen (1913–1988), a famous Marie saw in the dissolution of the Marie hotly declared outright that our acquaintance with Marie Bennigsen. We would EXTINGUISHED French scholar of the East and the USSR a portent of a new stage of strug- what was happening in Chechnya was even dare call it our friendship. Precisely a year Soviet Union and a researcher of gle, this time over the North Caucasus. a crime. We instantly understood just ago, Marie came to visit us and went with us to Muslim Asia. His books were not trans- Each visit to this region enriched her how dangerous her fervor was for her Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, and North Ossetia. It is difficult to write about Marie Up to the very end, preserving her clari- lated in the USSR, but students and the with a myriad impressions which ulti- and all of us, but we could not stop She hoped to return again, and not for a last time... Bennigsen-Broxup in the past tense. ty of mind, Marie Bennigsen spent her academic intelligentsia often refer- mately helped her perceive in its entire- her. In her impetuousness, Marie went For those who had the fortune to last allotted days in extreme activity. enced their arguments, gleaning them ty how necessary it was to raise the sta- to the point of demanding that she be Her passing is an irretrievable private loss, a great know her, she was truly a source of She was trying to conclude her earthly from Radio Liberty and Voice of tus of the North Caucasus. However, put in touch with MVD Minister grief for every one of us. light. It seemed as though the entire business, say her farewells to everyone, America. The daughter's choice of pro- even for the Caucasians, every meeting Kulikov. And here, out of nowhere, the sky was cast over with obscure smoke finish writing what she had begun, pre- fession reflected her father's influence. with such a guest was an event. She major who was the executive officer at Marie Aleksandrovna has left us, but the image of when, on October 10, 2012 (so pare the magazine's publication... All Having studied in the Sorbonne, Marie found a common language easily, not the checkpoint, asked whether she this extraordinary woman will continue to gravi- recently!), the doctors issued a diag- this time, she was surrounded by a large, Bennigsen became an orientalist-poli- only with politicians and the creative was in any way related to General tate, like a lighthouse in stormy weather. nosis that precluded any hope of devoted family: her husband, Michael tologist. intelligentsia but with the common Bennigsen. Marie was very surprised: recovery. But even then, it was hard to Broxup, her sons, Alexander and Julien, people as well. The problems of her was it possible that in the Russian We grieve together with your relatives! We will believe that the fateful end was at the her sisters, Elizabeth and Fanny, her The East was more than a calling for friends became her problems; delving Army someone would still remember always remember you and love you they way you doorstep — being in Marie's presence brother, Peter, and his wife, Nastya. Marie: it literally "infected" her. Her deeply into them, Marie always tried to the reign of Alexander I? The major were! was a habitual joy which one had not Shaken by the news of the coming loss, first independent research was focused help. Her large and friendly family came proudly affirmed that this was really the strength to part with. The hope acquaintances and relatives rushed to on Iran and Afghanistan. Many of that to terms with her constant self-sacrifice. the case. Instantly Marie declared that, Thank you for everything! that she would yet spend some time Oxford from all corners of the world, region's politicians and public figures Frequently, relatives and loved ones in that case, he must assist us in our with us, contrary to everything, ardently wishing to find Marie still liv- entered her circle of intimates. Later, would join her projects to at least journey further into the mountains — Thousands of Caucasians, Tartars, and Russians — refused to die. But on December 7, ing. Some flew in from Australia, others already at the apex of her scholarly somewhat ease Marie's burden, to help she was, after all, the direct descendant upon whom you bestowed your kindness — bow to 2012, at eight o'clock in the morning, from Turkey, Georgia, France... work, Countess Marie Bennigsen- her. Like a magnet, she attracted people, of the famed general... you deeply! the inevitable happened. Merciless Broxup became interested in the generously sharing with them both her The fact of the matter was that our life destiny took Marie from everyone Knowing and sensing that her hour North Caucasus. Work on this topic enormous reserves of knowledge and hung by a thread. Approaching Grozny, Rest in peace! who loved and revered her. was near, Marie endured the pangs of became the focus of her interests, her the treasures of her soul. we had not suspected that Chechen

32 DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus The First Independent Magazine About Events in the Caucasus DIGEST ISSUE # 15/2013 33 A year without Marie Bennigsen-Broxup