From beyond the grave: A searing indictment of Putin's protegé
A report by Natalya Estemirova, the Russian activist murdered in Chechnya as she investigated human rights abuses
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The abductions in Chechnya started nearly a decade ago. In 2000, Russian forces took control of practically the entire territory of the republic, and started extensive mop-up operations in villages.
Thousands of murders and abductions took place; these operations were declared to be an efficient method in the fight against rebels. In reality, however, the troops and police were looting the houses of unprotected civilians, at times taking away everything from them, from cars and furniture to shampoos and female underwear.
Most horrifically of all, women were raped in front of their male relatives, and all the men were detained, from teenagers to old men: they were either cruelly beaten, or released for ransom, or else they disappeared forever.
Large-scale "mop-up" operations stopped after 2003, but the abductions did not. Most often, one or two people would be taken from their homes in the middle of the night. Some were fortunate to return home barely alive after several days or weeks of cruel beating and torture – always ransomed by their relatives. But if the family of the abducted person could not gather the necessary sum or find the mediator, a dead body would be found some time later, or the victim would disappear for good. There were also those who – after their disappearance – appeared in court and were sentenced for grave crimes, despite their insistence that they had only confessed under prolonged torture.
Many things would change when Ramzan Kadyrov became President of Chechnya in 2007. Large-scale reconstruction began; Grozny changed by the day, its streets newly covered with asphalt and houses boasting plastic window frames and fresh plastering. Observers started talking about the wonders of the young President. From the inside the renovated houses did not look so beautiful, with no interior works done, and no proper utilities ensured. Since then, Kadyrov has attempted to engineer a further change of ideas. The President is advancing his campaign for a "revival of spiritual traditions"... making women and young girls "dress properly", and above all wear headscarves in public.
Meanwhile, Kadyrov invites Russian pop celebrities to Chechnya and gives them lavish presents. No one dares to ask how these visits are sponsored, or how they comply with the Chechen "tradition". No one dares to object to anything Kadyrov says or does, just as no one dared to object to Stalin's words or deeds in the former Soviet Union. Peace in the republic and the successes in fighting terrorism are widely advertised; yet in reality rebel fighters frequently attack policemen, the numerous branches of the military structures constantly clash, and people keep being abducted. The main difference now is that many disappear only for some days and return beaten, terrified and therefore mostly silent.
Political observers claim Kadyrov is ruling over Chechnya independently of Russia. Is it really so? Tens of thousands of Chechens pining away in Russian prisons would not agree. Neither would the hundreds of thousands of war victims, or the relatives of the killed and missing. And the outflow of Chechen refugees to European countries is not subsiding. On the contrary: more and more people are trying to leave. A dictatorship is being cemented in a small European territory.
UN and EU officials compare the situation with the events of 2000, and note indubitable improvements. But what was the reason for destroying so many cities and villages, killing hundreds of thousands of civilians and... introducing state terror justified as a "fight against terrorism"? Was it not to crush the society and force it to make an artificial choice between democracy and stability? The Kremlin is satisfied with the current suppression in Chechnya of any attempts to act and think independently.
An extract from a 2,600-word article by Natalya Estemirova on the situation in Chechnya written in August 2008 but never published
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Comments
Considering the explosiveness of the accounts provided by Ms Estermirova it's no wonder someone wanted her dead yesterday. Buried in the massive informational overload of the US & British invasion, there was nary a blip in western media with regards to what was really going on in Chechnya. Even if it had been mentioned, considering the whole scale terrorization of the Iraqi people by western forces that followed the massive failure of post war planning, I would imagine public reaction would have suffered from information overload ... and the response would likely sit dull and jaded.
I do remember coming across an article or two of how Russia was doggedly using the 'War on Terror' to annihilate Chechnya with old school post WWII Russian tanks, but that was farce in the face of the wide scale 'Janjaweeding' of Darfur like sordidness complete with Atilla-like cruelty enacted upon the Chechnyan people.
Also, a number of years ago already, Amnesty reported on how all kinds of governments were monkeying Bush's rhetoric for their own military and political ends.
"As I recall" wording is misplaced here as it is a turn of phrase better suited for appositive purposes and may not be used at the beginning of affirmative statements.
Further, the word " amnesty" may not be capitalized, unless previously introduced, for amnesty cannot report anything, unless we mean Amnesty International.
Thirdly, regarding the style of "monkeying" description.
It may not be applied to the overused policy of successive American Administrations to ostensible bribe its potential "allies". Diplomacy is engaged and employed only after the initial "conquest' proved successful, and in cases of equal opponents(barely in evidence throughout American History.
Most external American enemies were created by Americans themselves and the internal enemies were mostly the sources for the good in this country.
If I had known the ghost of my English teacher was out to get me, my "style" might not have been so lazy in my internet posts!
Certainly in this sort of context I am less than formal -a few notches up from text-messaging perhaps! And yes we do mean Amnesty International as we will have understood!
"As far as I remember" might have displeased you less.
"Monkeying" referred not to a US policy but to an imitation of the aforementioned rhetoric by others for their own ends...such as by Putin in Chechnya for example, but also by governments such as those of Cuba and China -i.e. not exactly US client states.
Yes, I am a former English teacher(from Russia).
As for Putin, one has to realize the guy has received a Russian state in the most deplorable condition, ready to disintegrate, with a quarter population drinking from depression, from all prospects gone as a result of the state-run idiotic economy that supported from state prisons being unable to feed convicts, from 80 years of inhuman brainwashing, outright starvation, destruction of morals, first in the world state-supported abortion laws (official policy of the Bolshevik Government year 1920, how many years before Roe VS Wade?) and dozen other reasons.
Before you guys come out swinging at the likes of Putin, try to understand the plight of many millions whose lives had been raped many times over, with their psyche haunted and ravished from so much abuse by authorities, whose lifetime savings turned to nothing after perestroika, pensions and all, whose dignity was trampled upon and whose suffering through the most severe of regimes was now being pat upon......need I continue?
I was 20 years old when I returned from the army. We couldn't buy anything but some bread and milk and few other staples, meat not included.
Our diplomas were useless, our country had no future, our young had little to live for, our grandmothers (most grandfathers died in WWII) were picking through rubbish to find food, all this almost animalistic existence emphasized by utter humiliation of a country as a whole.
Imagine many US states declaring independence all at once, with federal government hard-pressed to collect the revenue to ensure minimal operation of its branches.
Add to it the army of China and Iran, and Pakistan, and whoever positioning on the northern and southern borders.
All the world's propaganda agitating the public opinion against the 'evils' of the Americans, with many nations with a grudge claiming the US owed them reparations for "continuous occupation, for ruining the indigenous habitats of Native Americans, of Iraqis, of Chileans, Venezualans, Argentinians, of Pacific rim nations, of Japanese victims of unique barbaric bombing horror, of Palestinians, Syrians", etc.
This is all hypothetical, mind you!
Aren't you scared? What if the Russians supported the Iraq's fractions against US...currently, the war is being won by a ragtag barefooted barely armed, underfed, untrained awed into submission Iraqis.
Imagine they got the help from Russia, or China, the way you guys supported Afghanistan against Russian interests that 20 years later forced you to bite the bullet.
Nonsense, you say???
I am venting, I am aware of this, but if, as a result of this writing, one person in the West will stop to think about the content of their beliefs, about the misplaced and misguided affinities of the free republic of the United States...about the utter injustice of the "victors" in the Cold war, and their unprecedented violations of agreements, about the future centuries of coexistence on this planet, with American hegemony not at all guaranteed...then, perhaps, people will stop blindly insulting the Russians every chance they get!
Good Day and thanks for reading his!
The "indignant" contributor perhaps wanted to say "expedient".
Well, I many be wrong, since I am Russian.
If Ms Estemirova's accusations are even partly true then it's a sad reflection on the ingrained intolerance the world as a whole seems to face. But is it a surprise? Unfortunately, no...
I am reading a novel called The Stalin Epigram by Rbt Little, based on a true incident of Stalinist repression of a poet who dared criticise Stalin. As I read of the arrests and tortures and killings of innocents, I thought to myself, "Thank heavens those days are over and we will nver see them again."
Pinochet, Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak, Royal Saudi's family...i think these are the people/regimes supported by US establishment, and that is the most recent record.
But sadly that happens to be the case.
Have you considered why we have the so called terrorists? Its because of USA/UK meddling in the affairs of the middle east - and these middle east people just happen to be muslims.
What about the use of torture by the USA and UK forces in the last decade. Do you wonder why the Afghans regrouped into an insurgency?
Its all about meddling and control...
Hundreds of little details escape the Weterners' ears due to elites' complicity, even as honest Americans and Britons would condemn their governments' outright international criminality.
In all other cases, it's international terrorism.
2. Why do you call, me "comrade" - to insult me? I am the member of Yabloko party here in Russia and suffered a lot on the hands of communists - there are victims of Stalin's repressions among previous generation of my family - your calling me "comrade" is immoral and insulting in this respect.
2. So Kadyrov she thought was bad (as well as Putin). Every idiot understand that if Kadyrov will go away - Al-Queda will come to his place. There is no other so powerfull, influential person in Chechnya able now to control situation and keep Islamists far in the mountains away from power in Grozny!...Really, lets dismiss Kadyrov and invite Osama bin Ladin to Chechnya - he is now uncomfortable in Pakistan since US is bombing around him. Right. Very clever. Then spread jihad to other muslim authonomies in Russia (20 mln. muslims live in Russia, - give them independance and , naturally, their part of Russian nukes - why not? - democracy is democracy - they have their rights in share for everything created in Russia while with joint efforts, right?....So maybe it is easier then to invite bin Laden directly to rule in UK, why to wait till he will nuke you from Independent Imamat Chechnya with ex. Russian nukes, eh?
Welcome to the future of the collusion and confusion between militant free markets and double speak democracy.
to FIN-D_EMPIRE. One can guess your message from your logo. I would appreciate some documented evidence to support your claims of US/Shite "death squads." I would also suggest that regardless of the subject of any article commented upon, you will drag out the Central American atrocities and the Shite "death squads." So give us some solid evidence to back up your claims...or else, I may call you unpleasant names.
I would refer you to a good article on Estemirova in Foreign Policy. com.
But when someone doubts West's cleanliness, we start demanding solid proofs... What is a "solid proof", may I ask? And when you answer, please check if you have any "solid proof" for accusations made in black&white articles directed against Russia - maybe you would get more concerned with double standards which is my main problem.
Just 1 year ago, I could read a lot of article about corruption in Russia all comparing it with a superior Western model. As we all learned over last year, US and UK models are only a polished image created by complete lack of objective reporting. At least in Russia, there are journalists who try, but instead of giving credit, this is used against Russia. Just think about it, are there any brave journalists like Estemirova or Politkovskaya in UK or US? I do not think so. So, please continue to believe that you live in such a perfect part of the world. It is easy to do when you watch Holliwood movies and take everything they say on ForeignPolicy.com as a solid proof.
And, oh yes, the below mediocre command of the languages in the West in general (never mind the proverbial US "successes" therein) to ensure obedience to official "democratic" version of history...
Now, why is it not mentioned that all those abductions were commited exactly by Kadyrov's enemies - it was one of reasons to fight separatists to stop their abducting people there...Again - I have no idea who killed her, my condolences to her family, but the truth should become known. Was her writing a truth? Was her writing biased? Where is the analises, where is journalism? What I see hear hardly can be called truth...
SORRY, FIN_D_EMPIRE, we're still looking for documented proof of US involvement in the death squads.
If spelling closes off all discussion, then try Shi'ite. I read your links carefully and there was NO indication whatsoever of US involvement. So not to make yourself look stupid and 'knee-jerk' anti-American, give us some documented proof. (As I say, your logo gives you away.)
Please, turn your attention no to the fin_d_empire's links and quotes, but to the official record in the American eternally-free press. Do come back and contribute your findings and leave the venting to the hapless masses
The UK press is filled with unsubstantiated accusations about all manner of things. The number of newspapers here that report substantiated facts and quotations are becoming fewer and fewer. Most of the UK press print editorials and opinions as facts. The front page of the Daily Mail is always opinion, wild prediction of the horror that faces the UK. The latest was a 'senior military figure', never identified, who said that the UK soldier is ill equipped.
These comments in this discussion are equally without fact-support. When I ask for documentation, I get a flip remark about spelling, or a vague reference to the American free press. Never solid evidence.
I read the Wash Post and NYTimes link daily and have never seen a ref to American-Shiite Death Squads, so I AM STILL WAITING FOR SOME SOLID PROOF FROM YOU or an admission that you are full of it.
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla
ps Very important: need to kill without pity all of them - if they arrive in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Forbidden to publish articles of "terrorists rights defenders" - from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Do you still bay for blood? Go out in the night looking for human flesh? If you really want people to think Russia barbaric, keep posting your blood thirsty nonsense and they won't have to look far. A brave and courageous woman was murdered. It scarcely matters who by. And then morons like you sit there at their computers raging at journalists who report it. BRAVE MAN! So brave! You must be proud of yourself. What an absolute monkey you are.
By the way, I don't know who pays you to write this rubbish, but it must be peanuts - pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
Racist, sexist, chauvinist - really, does any woman, even your grandmother, actually like you? You really are a sad weirdo.