Jule, 02, 2005

A.-H. Sadulaev: "We are ready for peace, but we shall never refuse independence!"

(On the 30 th of June, the Chechen edition "Radio Freedom" carried out an interview to the President of the ChRI Abdul-Halim Sadulaev).

Shamaev Ruslan: "We have never refused peace proposals to the Kremlin to finish the war in the Chechen Republic , but we shall not allow the Russian government transforming the questions of peace into political games and to deceive the Chechen people again", - Abdul-Halim Sadulaev, the President of the ChRI after Maskhadov's death, says. The problems of the war and peace, the situation in the Chechen Republic – Abdul-Halim Sadulaev has agreed to tell us about this in the interview to the "Radio Freedom". Martanov Baudi will acquaint us with the conversation with the Chechen leader.

Martanov Baudi: For the three months after the murder of President Mashadov, the Chechen Resistance is headed by his successor A.-H. Sadulaev. It is a huge and heavy cargo of responsibility, but A.-H. Sadulaev, in opinion of the Chechen Internet-sites, has proved that he successfully copes with it. He deeply realizes the developed situation and possesses all qualities necessary for continuation of the pursuit of Aslan Mashadov. And the Russian authorities approve, that this person is unknown, that he does not posses the real authority, and try to ignore his activity. Not stopping at the analysis of these two inconsistent opinions, we, using modern technologies of communication, have decided to ask Abdul-Halim Sadulaev, what he thinks about the situation in the Chechen Republic and the ways of settlement of this situation.

Sadulaev Abdul-Halim: Assalamu alleikum! I, insha Allah, shall answer the questions of the "Radio Freedom". In the Chechen Republic the work for banishment of the invaders has always been carried. This work goes on and it will be continued. Daily our mojaheds carry out mine-explosive actions on the ways of moving of the Russian military columns, at military bases and commandant's offices of invaders. The same actions are daily carried out also against national-traitors serving to Russians. Also we have always carried out operations of attacks at large military bases of invaders, for capture of large regional centers and cities, and this work also will be continued. We shall not tell when, where and how in advance.

Our activity proceeds habitually, especially intensively now, as it always happens in spring, summer and autumn. In winter there are some other peculiarities; mojaheds make accents on mine explosions. At the present stage our fighters are engaged in liquidation of mobile groups of the enemy. In the Itum-Kali, Shatoi, Achhoi-Martan, Nojai-Yurt, Urus-Martan, Vedeno regions, everywhere this work is carried out, investigation divisions of the enemy are destroyed, and good trophies are taken. And this activity is carried out daily. As far as the large military operations are concerned - you will find out about them, when they are carried out. And the question, whether an action similar to the Beslan one is planned among these operations, seems to me to be provocative. Unequivocally I declare: the Chechen government does not plan any operations similar to the Beslan one.

Martanov Baudi: Russian generals approve the opposite. According to them, the Chechen Resistance does not have forces to carry out large military operations, there are, ostensibly, internal contentions in it, and it can carry out only small acts of terrorism. How you will comment on these statements?

Sadulaev Abdul-Halim: There is no truth in these statements. The Chechen fighters have enough forces for carrying out of any necessary operation; they submit to one command and observe the general discipline. It does not mean that in the Chechen Republic there are no small independent groups, submitting to their amirs. These groups, besides liquidation of Russian invaders, sometimes make actions against peace inhabitants Russia like in Beslan or the "Northeast". There are such cases. They search for the ways and methods of struggle.

But it does not matter, who participates in these groups, who prepares and helps them - Shamil Basaev or anyone else - the Chechen government and military command do not approve such actions. This activity will not be coordinated with the policy of the Chechen state and the SDC - Madjlisul Shura. The Chechen management has always declared the steady position on this question. Aslan Mashadov adhered to this position and all of us do the same. After Aslan's death this position has not changed. But we also remember that these groups self-denyingly are at war against Russian invaders.

Martanov Baudi: As it is known, Shamil Basaev, having admitted his responsibility for the "Northeast", put down all his official posts in the structure of the government. It would be desirable to learn, what post does he have now, and what relations do you have with him now?

Sadulaev Abdul-Halim: After Shamil Basaev's admitting, that the operation on capture of the "Northeast" had been carried out under his management, he wrote an application to the Commander-in-chief Mashadov Aslan about removal of all official powers from him. This application was approved by Mashadov. After all these events it was not a secret for anybody, and Mashadov also did not conceal it, that Basaev was not completely ignored by the military command. He was charged and successfully executed the work, in particular, on neutralization of the Russian special services.

But it did not mean, that Aslan Mashadov agreed with his activity in fulfillment of the actions like Beslan or the "Northeast". He told Basaev about it for several times. Shortly before his death Aslan Mashadov spoke to him about unacceptability of such methods in our struggle. All of us know that Mashadov and the government of the ChRI considered it to be inadmissible to make peace, unarmed people, especially women and children an object of attacks. If Russians kill our women, children and old men we cannot assimilate to the Russian terrorists, killing their women, children and old men I revenge. And our position in this question is constant.

Martanov Baudi: The whole world knows that up to the end of his days Aslan Mashadov indefatigably searched for the ways to peace. We have asked A.-H. Sadulaev, whether he is going to make changes in Aslan Mashadov's course.

Sadulaev Abdul-Halim: Speaking about peace, Mashadov expressed not only his opinion and desire, but also of all Chechen people, the Chechen government and the SDC - Madjlisul Shura of the ChRI. And after his death our aspiration for peace has not weakened.

The war in the Chechen Republic proceeds till now not because we are not interested in peace. The reason is that Putin does not want it. Again and again he rejects our offers for peace and all the ways leading to it. Today there is an important question for us - whether there are forces in the Kremlin, interested in the prompt settlement of this military conflict? Unfortunately, so far we do not see such forces, which could approve our offers for peace and good neighborhood. But we declare that the policy of the government of the ChRI on the given question does not change, and it will not.

Martanov Baudi: A.-H. Sadulaev has answered many our questions. We discussed the events happening in the world. And, though our conversation concerned different themes, the main sense of what A.-H. Sadulaev said, was that the Chechen people and the government of the ChRI aspired for peace, that the Chechen people had chosen the way of achievement of the state independence and that the Chechen people would be persistent in defending of their right for freedom.

Chechenpress, the Department of mass-media, 02.07.05.

http://chechenpress.co.uk/english/news/2005/07/02/04.shtml