From: MSN Nicknameshml_blue  (Original Message)    Sent: 5/19/2005 10:16 AM
18.05.2005
Spring-summer news period

Echoing Ramzan Kadyrov’s recent statement Chechnya’s military commandant general-lieutenant Fomenko also said “leaders of bandit formations had been de facto liquidated.” Besides, he pinpointed at “a significant decrease in financial flows” and “blocking financial channels of rebels” what does not necessarily mean Fomenko knew how much money, where from and how these “gangs” had received and still receive.

Even before Fomenko many officials “responsible” for Chechnya said “financial flows had been completely blocked.” Sometimes General Shabalkin gave concrete amounts. Surprisingly enough, all assurances of the Kremlin propagandists have been based on the following conclusion: “All the money goes to Basayev, what in fact makes him the chief in the hierarchy of rebels.”

However, Fomenko says “the financial flows run short” after Maskhadov’s death. Thus, Maskhadov was the chief in this “hierarchy,” and “dear Russians” have been fooled all the time. The question – why? Only due to a great unwillingness to begin a dialog with the person who ordered suspending all hostilities by Chechen armed formations?

By the way, Yeltsin could not make federal troops in Chechnya obey similar orders from Moscow, and Putin is unlikely to succeed in it – Russian troops and secret services in Chechnya are unwilling to react to Moscow’s orders, especially such strange orders as “observing a truce.”

Today’s statements of Russian military and the puppet administration are similar, and not only in their essence. The main point is that all of them have the same reasons. They are few.

First – the Chechen Resistance has traditionally become more active in the spring-summer period. Even judging by news which have miraculously managed to penetrate through the information filter to Russian mass media, we can find out that that military situation in Chechnya is far from being “stable,” “predictable.” And the fact the Chechen resistance has become more active when spring came rejects all allegations about “a situation” which is under control.

Another reason of “victorious reports is political” – growing criticism of Putin’s policy, and not only in the West, but also at home. As a result of such criticism Putin’s image needs repairs and Chechnya comes to the forefront again. Because thanks to his “Chechen policy” Putin managed to become Russia’s president and to turn the Russian society to habitual ideals of a great Empire of the Kremlin. The KGB officer chose traditional methods for that.

However, the lingering – with no signs of improvement – crisis in Chechnya remains the main summary evaluation of Putin’s activity. Until recently he has easily managed to justify antidemocratic innovations with the necessity of war on terrorism, but his recent initiatives (especially after the tragedy in Beslan) put such arguments in question. And now Putin’s policy needs “positive news” from Chechnya.

However, it seems average Russians do not almost react to such news. In turn Chechnya’s residents know well that a similar rise in “positive news” has always taken place against the back ground of a large-scale aggravation of the military-political situation in the republic for the Kremlin. It is proved by reports of non-governmental organizations, however Russian and western politicians have learnt to ignore them.
The Chechen Times
http://www.chechentimes.org/en/comments/?id=29019