Chechnya Peace Forum, which arranged the "negotiations" with Kadyrov's representatives in Norway, defines itself as a London-based human rights NGO. Investigations show this perception to be quite modified truth.
Chechnya Peace Forum is not an organization - it is just a media project, established by a media and lobbying agency in the United Kingdom, Champollion Communications Consultancy. According to SpinProfiles, Champollion is placed in the category "Lobbying firms: Israel lobby". Champollion do promote many Jewish and pro-Israel media outlets, but the company has also handled Berezosky's media manipulating efforts, for example "International Foundation for Civil Liberties" (IFCL).
According to Chompallion's web site, "we established the Chechnya Peace Forum in London to act as a focal point of global campaigning activity", and "we are honoured to be playing a key part in the effort to establish peace, reconciliation and human rights in one of the most barbaric and victimized parts of the world". This phraseology is put into action by supporting Kadyrov's rule in Chechnya, which sounds quite weird in real world but probably is innovative in media business.
Chechnya Peace Forum has its official office in the premises of Champollion, and the "organization" is in fact a private limited company, consisting just of Ivar Amundsen and his poor wife. All the activities, such as arranging venue and media campaign for Zakayev's negotiations with Kadyrov's lackeyAbdurakhmanov, is handled by the staff of Champollion. Chechnya Peace Forum itself has been listed as being a part of the neoconservative propaganda network in Europe. Part of this network "have sought to promote their anti-Muslim 'Eurabia' discourse, through alliances with the European far-right", according to Neocon Europe.
Well, what is then Champollion doing for Zakayev? Let's have a look at their web site:
•- "We offer our clients trusted strategic advice, with a strong focus on understanding and refining their message". The strategic advice seems to be luring Zakayev into Kadyrov's camp. The refined message implies recognition of Kadyrov's rule as legitimate, as Russia stands behind him and Russia is so big (sic)! The Baltic countries and Finland probably didn't ever understand how big is Russia, but they are all free and independent today.
•- "We know how to establish, run and manage campaigns - and have a first-rate track-record of media delivery and successfully lobbying decision-takers". Is Kadyrov lobbed, or is it all just about manipulating Western media to believe that evil can be fought by joining the evil? Poor Natasha Estemirova, she erroneously believed that wickedness can be opposed only by truth. By advices of Champollion and Amundsen, she would have joined Kadyrov and still be living in prosperity, with nothing else to fear but the Judgement Day.
•- "Handling all areas of a media operation: generating news ....". Generating news, does it imply creating news, such that Zakayev stopped the armed resistance to Russian army and it's puppets, beginning on August 1st?
Using a high-profile media consultant is an expensive adventure. As the "euroichkerian government" of Zakayev has no cadres, no staff, hardly no supporters and no working organization - he has been compelled to hire outside consultants to do the job. Rumours tell that Berezovsky has abandoned Zakayev - his diminishing importance makes it difficult to get a proper "return on investment" on the subsidiaries.
Zakayev was lucky to find another business man, helping him with expensive flat and cost of children in English private schools together with youngsters of London's Russian oligarch colony. Ivar Amundsen came in handy, but there are costs involved in having depraved friends.
Ivar Amundsen has publicly been advocating for "Chechen traditions of culture and religion". This means propagating for a "secular and democratic society", and accusing all Chechens believing in Sharia Law for "fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism". Some basic knowledge of Chechen history would made him understand that he hereby dissociates himself from such Chechen leaders as Dudayev, Yandarbiyev, Maskhadov, Sadulaev and Umarov, just to mention all the leaders of Ichkeria. But in manipulated media, he and Champallion give Zakayev the epithet "Maskhadov continuation government".
Apparently, Amundsen does not know that Maskhadov imposed full Sharia rule in Chechnya in February 1999, in November he proclaimed a state based on Sharia, with all laws confirming to the Koran and Sharia? And the "secular democrat" Zakayev - he was, in February 1999 by president Maskhadov, appointed chairman of the "State Commission on the Development of a Sharia Constitution"!
Well, a talented actor can change his role according to place and audience. Today a credible Hamlet, tomorrow a convincing Caligula; yesterday promoting Islam, today being a secular democrat, and tomorrow (without any doubts) supporting Kadyrov's "traditional Islamic values". Unfortunately, for a politician such behaviour is called flip-flopping or simply opportunism.
Amundsen's private business has raised serious doubts about how deeply he understands the values Chechens stand for. His has credentials as the major Norwegian bootlegger, i.e. business owner and chairman of the 'The Association of Norwegian Wine and Spirit Suppliers'. This organization sells 70 % of all alcohol in Norway. Among other things, Amundsen has been propagating for reduced alcohol taxes and an increase of Norwegian alcohol consumption from 9 liters to 10-12 liters pro person, as in France and Germany. When Human Rights activist speak about European values, they normally have other measures in their mind. Amundsen's motivation is probably businesslike - maybe the person who stopped the war of Russia against Checnya 1st of August, maybe he also has power to grant his friend monopoly of alcohol business in Chechnya? Chechens believing in Islam don't drink, but in Amundsen's and Zakayev's view of their future, there will always be enough Russians around.
Anyway, it's apparent that Amundsen has already become a ballast for Zakayev in the view of all true Chechens, and it's likely that he will be washed overboard as soon as Zakayev's Faustian bargain with Kadyrov has been closed. "Chechens shall not kill Chechens" is a good slogan created by Champillion, but who believes the "negotiations" are about stopping kadyrovtsy from killing and terrorising Chechen civilians?
No, the negotiations are about house and car - Mucuraev got as a present a house in Djokhar and a a jeep «BMW X-5». Zakayev is the euroichkerian leader, possessing the phone number to both Amundsen and Saralyapov, he deserves a bigger house and a better car!
Picture caption: The Janus face of Amundsen - a bootlegger promoting his business. Source Verdens Gang, Norway.
Mikael Storsjö,
Helsinki, Schmelsinki
FinlandFor Kavkaz Center
