Persoverzicht Tsjetsjenië - februari 2011

• 2011-03-01
• Europa in de wereld

1 februari 2011

Police official attacked in Kabardino-Balkaria: (i) Head of the Urvan district police department Anatoly Sundukov and his driver were injured in an explosion in Kabardino-Balkaria on Monday. (ii) Two militants were killed in an operation on the outskirts of Makhachkala (capital of Dagestan) on Tuesday. (iii) A law enforcement source told Interfax that Russia has asked Italy to provide information on the detention of Ruslan Umarov, a brother of Chechen militant leader Doku Umarov. In the meantime, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has called on Western countries to detain terrorist leaders hiding out in Europe instead of their little known relatives. (iv) Novye Izvestia reports that a native of North Ossetia Madina Salamova, known under her pseudonym Maria Amelie, may receive Icelandic citizenship. Salamova was deported from Norway to Russia on 24 January. (Interfax, Izvestia, Kommersant, MT, Novye Izvestia, RG, RIAN)

2 februari 2011

Domodedovo airport bombing: According to Russian Health and Social Development Ministry, one of those injured in the Domodedovo airportbombing on January 24 has died, so bringing the death toll from the tragedy to 36. Meanwhile, the head of Ingushetia,Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, has said that it is too early to say what region the organizers of the Domodedovo terrorist attack came from. "I would not say that people from Ingushetia or the Northern Caucasus republics are involved in this attack. The explosion indicates the involvement of militants, but the origin of those militants is yet to be determined," he said. (Interfax)

3 februari 2011

Five policemen killed in Kabardino-Balkaria:(i) Five police officers were killed in an attack in the town of Chegem in Kabardino-Balkaria on Wednesday. In a separate attack late on Wednesday in Kabardino-Balkaria, two traffic policemen were wounded. (ii) Two militants were killed in an operation on Wednesday in Makhachkala (capital of Dagestan). (iii) The Stavropol territory court yesterday sentenced 12 defendants in the case of a June 2004 raid of Nazran (Ingushetia) to long prison terms. One of the defendants was sentenced to life imprisonment. The militant raid on government buildings in Nazran left at least 78 people killed and more than 100 injured. (iv) Italian police have reportedly confirmed the detention of Anvar Sharipov, brother of Maryam Sharipova, a native of Dagestan who blew herself up in Moscow's Lubyanka metro station in March 2010. Earlier Italian media reports identified the detainee as Ruslan Umarov, a brother of Chechen militant leader Doku Umarov. (Gazeta.ru, Kommersant, MT, RG; Ekho Moskvy)

4 februari 2011

Medvedev says Domodedovo bombing not solved yet: (i) Federal Security Service (FSB) head Bortnikov told President Medvedev on Thursday that the FSB has information about the organizers and suicide bomber involved in the 24 January attack at Moscow's Domodedovo airport that killed 36 people and injured up to 200. According to Bortnikov, the identity of the suicide bomber has been established. He confirmed that the suicide bomber was a 20-year-old resident of one of the North Caucasus republics. Life News portal suggested that the suicide bomber at Domodedovo airport might have been Magomed Yevloyev, a 20-year-old native of Ingushetia, who left his home village of Ali-Yurt in September 2010. According to media reports, the Yevloyev family left their home village soon after the Domodedovo bombing. Law enforcement agencies neither confirmed nor denied the reports. Meanwhile, meeting with the FSB chief and the Investigative Committee head, President Medvedev slammed officials for announcing that the Domodedovo blast had been solved. Medvedev's remarks are seen as "indirect polemics" with PM Putin. Meeting Channel One journalists late on Wednesday, Putin pointed to significant progress in the investigation of the Domodedovo bombing, saying that "the case has been solved on the whole." Putin described the attack as "senseless cruelty" and "anarchic terrorism against everyone and everything." (ii) According to a poll by the Levada-Centre, cited by Kommersant, 48% of Russians said that terrorist attacks have become routine in the country, while 47% took the opposite view. (iii) Izvestia reports on the opening of 22 criminal cases over fake bomb reports in Moscow in January. (Gazeta.ru, Izvestia, Kommersant, Lenta.ru, MT, NG, RBK daily, RG, RIAN, Vedomosti)

7 februari 2011

Instability in Northern Caucasus on the rise –press: Nezavisimaya Gazeta in a front-page article reports on growing instability in the Northern Caucasus and points to an increase in militant attacks not only in Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria, but also in Karachayevo-Cherkessia. Three police officers were killed in an attack on a police car on Friday in Karachayevo-Cherkessia, which is located close to the venues of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. The daily reports on the strengthening of Interior Troops, police and military units in the Northern Caucasus. (ii) In a lengthy interview with Kommersant, Dagestan President Magomedsalam Magomedov comments on the fight against terrorism in Dagestan and the socioeconomic situation in the republic. (iii) Two policemen were wounded in a shootout late on Friday in Dagestan. (iv) Dailies report on the signing by 'North Caucasus Resorts' company of cooperation agreements with Dagestan, Adygeya and the Krasnodar territory as part of the Russian Government's plans for a string of ski resorts in the Northern Caucasus. (Izvestia, Kommersant, NG, RBK daily, RIAN)

9 februari 2011

Explosion rocks centre of Grozny: According to electronic media reports, an explosion rocked the centre of Grozny, the capital of Chechnya this morning. Reportedly an explosion occurred on Kadyrov Avenue in Grozny's Leninsky district not far from a consumer services center. This has been the third explosion in Grozny's Leninsky district in the past 24 hours. The previous two explosions wounded three people. According to reports three policemen from special task forces were wounded in this blast. An explosive device went off, when a group of policemen approached a four-storey apartment building on the Derbentskaya street. (Ria –Novosti, Interfax)

10 februari 2011

Four detained over Domodedovo airport blast; suicide bomber named:The media continue to report on the identity of the suspected suicide bomber who blew himself up at Moscow's Domodedovo airport on 24 January. The blast killed 36 people and injured more than 180. Law enforcement sources confirmed that the bombing was conducted by Magomed Yevloyev, a 20-year-old native of Ingushetia. According to Kommersant, Yevloyev returned to his home village of Ali-Yurt several days before the bombing and received explosives. The bomber's brother, Akhmed, and sister, Fatima, were detained in connection with the blast. Traces of hexogen were found on the Yevloyev relatives' hands. A total of four people have been detained on suspicion of involvement in the attack. Ingush leader Yunus-Bek Yevkurov said that Ingush law enforcement agencies were looking for four persons suspected of involvement in the Domodedovo bombing and voiced concern that militant groups may use them for staging new attacks. Investigators said that law enforcement agencies are studying the theory that North Caucasus militant leader Doku Umarov could have been responsible for the Domodedovo bombing. Ekho Moskvy radio refers to an analyst at the US' Stratfor, who has raised doubts about Umarov's claim of responsibility for the Domodedovo blast. (ii) Nezavisimaya Gazeta comments on a series of explosions in Grozny on Tuesday. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, however, denied reports about the explosions in Grozny. iii) Two policemen were killed in an attack yesterday in the Dagestani town of Khasavyurt. (Izvestia, Kommersant, MT, NG, RG; Ekho Moskvy)

14 februari 2011

Up to 1,000 militants active in Northern Caucasus – envoy: (i) Presidential envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District Khloponin said on Friday that according to expert estimates, around 1,000 militants are still active in the North Caucasus Federal District. Khloponin expressed the view that North Caucasus militant leader Doku Umarov was involved in last month's attack at Domodedovo airport. (ii) Four militants have been killed in the Northern Caucasus over the weekend. A local politician from the Fair Russia party was killed on Saturday in Adygeya. (Gazeta.ru, MT, RIAN)

Court spokesperson: Khodorkovsky verdict written by Moscow City Court: In an interview with Gazeta.ru, spokeswoman for Moscow's Khamovnichesky district court Natalia Vasilyeva claims that the Mikhail Khodorkovsky verdict had been prepared by Moscow City Court judges and that judge Viktor Danilkin [who read out the verdict] had come under pressure from the Moscow City Court. (Gazeta.ru)

16 februari 2011

Dagestan suicide bombers identified?:(i) The press continues to report on twin suicide bombings on Monday in the Dagestani village of Gubden. According to latest reports, three police officers were killed and at least 25 people [most of them are Interior Troops servicemen] have been hospitalized. The first blast was perpetrated by a female suicide bomber, who was preliminarily identified as Maria (Marina) Khorosheva, an ethnic Russian who had converted to Islam. She was the wife of 'Slavic militant' Vitaly Razdobudko. Investigators do not exclude that the second blast, which was followed by an exchange of gunfire between police and militants, might have been carried out by Razdobudko. Some reports have linked him to a 31 December explosion at a hotel complex of a Moscow sports club, which left one person dead. The Monday bombings could have been masterminded by Dagestan militant leader Ibragimkhalil Daudov. (ii) Three police officers were killed and three others were wounded in a clash with militants on Tuesday on the administrative border of the Stavropol territory and the Republic of Karachayevo-Cherkessia. Five militants were killed in the clash. (iii) Two suspected suicide bombers blew themselves up on Tuesday in Grozny to avoid arrest, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said. (iv) Electronic media report on the detention on Tuesday at Moscow's Kiyevsky railway station of four natives of Chechnya, including one woman, on suspicion of preparing a terror attack. LifeNews.ru portal did not rule out that the woman might be a potential suicide bomber. (Gazeta.ru, Interfax, Izvestia, Kommersant, MT, NG, RG, RIAN; Ekho Moskvy)

17 februari 2011

Two blasts hit Dagestan's Kizlyar:(i) A shop was blown up early on Thursday in the Dagestani town of Kizlyar. Another explosion occurred twenty minutes later after police officers arrived in the site. At least one person was wounded as a result of the blasts. (ii) Dailies report on the detention on Tuesday at Moscow's Kiyevsky railway station of four natives of Chechnya on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack. They were detained while boarding a Moscow-Chisinau train. One of the detainees has reportedly been identified as a militant wanted for serious crimes. The four have been transferred to Chechnya for prosecution. (iii) The Russian Interior Ministry's main department for the North Caucasus Federal District said on Wednesday that militant activity is on the rise in the Northern Caucasus, adding that the most difficult situation is in Dagestan, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria. (v) According to Kommersant, Magomed Yevloyev, a 20-year-old Ingushetia native who blew himself up at Moscow's Domodedovo airport on 24 January, served in the Russian Pacific Fleet during three months. (Interfax, ITAR-TASS, Izvestia, Kommersant, Lenta.ru, MT, NG, Novye Izvestia, RG)

18 februari 2011

Terrorist leader Umarov hiding in Ingushetia?: (i) Ingush leader Yunus-Bek Yevkurov did not rule out that North Caucasus militant leader Doku Umarov might be hiding in Ingushetia, adding that he should be captured rather than killed. Yevkurov recalled the capture last June of one of the militant leaders, Ali Taziyev (known as 'Magas'). Doku Umarov had claimed responsibility for last month's deadly attack at Moscow's Domodedovo airport that killed 36 people and injured more than 180. (ii) Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Lukashevich on Thursday expressed indignity after the John Hopkins University in Maryland invited a suspected Russian militant Ilyas Akhmadov, who is on an international wanted list, as a guest speaker for the Crisis in the North Caucasus: Any Way Out? panel discussion. (iii) The media report on the detention on Thursday at a Moscow metro station of a resident of Nalchik (capital of Kabardino-Balkaria). A source in law enforcement agencies said that traces of explosives were found on his hands. (Gazeta.ru, Izvestia.ru, RIAN)

21 februari 2011

Chechen leader, Ulyanovsk governor proposed for re-election: (i) The United Russia party has nominated incumbent leader of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov for a second term along with two other candidates – Grozny mayor Muslim Khuchiyev and head of the Grozny municipal district Shaid Zhamaldayev. United Russia has also nominated incumbent governor of the Ulyanovsk region Sergey Morozov for a new term. (ii) Chechen authorities have asked "state workers to dress conservatively, including headscarves for women and an Islamic dress code on Fridays" (MT). (Gazeta.ru, Izvestia, Kommersant, MT)

22 februari 2011

'Baksan Jamaat' gang behind attack on Moscow tourists in Kabardino-Balkaria?:An unnamed source in Kabardino-Balkaria's investigative bodies told Gazeta.ru that Friday's attack on tourists from Moscow and the blowing up of a cable-car on Mount Elbrus in Kabardino-Balkaria were likely organized by the so-called 'Baksan Jamaat' militant group, led by Kazbek Tashuyev. The same group presumably was behind a July 2010 attack at the Baksan hydropower plant in the republic. Presidential envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District Khloponin called on officials on Monday in the town of Tyrnyauz to stop receiving new tourists to the Elbrus ski resort area during a regime of counter-terrorist operation in two districts of Kabardino-Balkaria. Experts, contacted by Trud, say that up to 30,000-40,000 people may lose their jobs if tourism is halted in the Northern Caucasus. (Gazeta.ru, RBK daily, RG, Trud)

Regions' post-crisis recovery:According to the Ministry of Regional Development (MinRegion), industrial growth was registered in 79 out of 83 regions in 2010. The fastest growth rates (17.9% on average) were in the industrial regions (Bashkortostan, the Perm territory, the Irkutsk, Leningrad, and Tyumen regions, and the Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous district. The regions of Russia's Far East and Transbaikalia also demonstrated a rapid industrial growth (14.6%). Meanwhile, the industrial production in Moscow, the Samara region, in the Chechen and Chuvash Republics and Altai dropped by more than 15%. Experts say that lack of investment could damage the post-crisis recovery. Only 24 regions have reached the pre-crisis level of fixed capital investment. Another problem is an accelerated inflation in many regions. The inflation rates in 51 regions exceeded the average figure for the whole of Russia. (Vedomosti)

25 februari 2011

Putin says fears for North Caucasus amid Libya unrest: At a press conference with European Commission President Barroso on Thursday in Brussels, PM Putin voiced concern that the unrest in Libya would strengthen radical groups, which could have a negative impact on the Northern Caucasus. Putin warned the West against interfering in the situation in Libya and the Middle East. Also on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich stressed that Moscow is doubtful about the effectiveness of possible sanctions against Libya. Interfax cites a joint statement by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and EU HR Catherine Ashton condemning the use of military force against peaceful demonstrations and any other manifestations of violence in some countries of North Africa and the Middle East. (Interfax, Izvestia, RIAN)

28 februari 2011

Militants attack FSB buildings, traffic police checkpoints in Nalchik:(i) Militants fired on the local FSB's headquarters, an FSB-owned sanatorium and several traffic police checkpoints on Friday evening in Nalchik (Kabardino-Balkaria's capital). A police source said that three to four groups of militants coordinated the attacks. One traffic police officer was wounded. On Sunday, a regime of counterterrorist operation was imposed in parts of Nalchik and the Cherek and Chegem districts of Kabardino-Balkaria. Earlier, the regime of counterterrorist operation was imposed in Kabardino-Balkaria's Elbrus district and part of the Baksan district after the killing of three tourists and a series of attacks on tourist facilities in the republic. Dailies (e.g. Kommersant and Nezavisimaya Gazeta) report on actions in Kabardino-Balkaria of the so-called anti-Wahhabis group, called 'Black Hawks', which expressed readiness to respond to terror with terror and made threats to militants and their families. (ii) Six militants have been killed in Chechnya in the past three days. Law enforcement agencies said on Sunday that the killed militants had planned terror attacks. (Gazeta.ru, Kommersant, MT, NG, Novye Izvestia, RG, RIAN)