After 2 weeks of bombardment, on December 11, 1994 Russian troops from three sides, north and west began a huge military invasion of Chechenia. The Russian Minister of Defense Pavel Grachov had previously stated in a television interview that one airborne unit, in the space of 2 hours, would be able to take control of the Chechen Republic. However, he also had in waiting, a huge force - tank regiments, artillery, and various other strategic forces in place, approximately 100,000 personnel including the most elite troops from all parts of the Russian Federation. These troops were all grouped at the borders of the Republic.
The very scale of the operation showed that Russia was preparing for an all-out war situation. The Russian leadership had 3 main aims:
A)Political; to put an end to the independence of the Republic of Chechenia, and to punish the people of Chechenia in order to quell their desire for independence; to make an example of the people of the Chechen Republic so that other nationalities would not be tempted to aspire towards independence.
B)Economical; to take control of the rich deposits of oil in the Republic.
C)Strategic; to re-establish Russia's dominant position in the Caucasus an to reassert control of the oil pipeline and the main transport route: air, rail and road.
In violation of all the International Covenants, the Organization of Security and Corporation in Europe treaty signed in December last year, and other treaties, Russia unleashed a massive military attack on the tiny Chechen Republic, not only to achieve its political goals through force, but also to destroy our people. This is evident from the massive bombing of civilian targets and the use of cluster bombs and chemical weapons prohibited under international law, against the civilian population. The Russian airforce and artillery completely destroyed Grozny (400,000 inhabitants), Argun (50,000), Pervomayskaya and Petropavlovskaya (20,000 population each). They also completely destroyed Khan-Kala, Nogha-Urt, Samashki, Gikalo and other towns. During the war, 60,000 civilians were killed, many thousands injured, and a half a million lost their homes and livelihoods.
Russia, after serious losses and military disasters, especially
in the mountainous regions and also conscious of the threat that the war
would spread into the Russian Federation territory, began the negotiation
process. The Chechen Government in view of the mounting human costs of the
conflict, agreed, in order to stop the many civilians being killed and maimed
by the battle.
During the negotiations a military agreement was signed according to which
Russia would withdraw her troops from Chechenia and the Chechen fighters
would give up their arms to the local home-guard. The Russian military has
refused to fulfil the terms of the agreement that they signed themselves,
with the excuse that the local population is supportive of President of
Chechen Republic Dzokhar Dudayev. The Russians accuse the local home-guard
of being the self-same Chechen fighters who have fought against the Russians.
Oleg Lobov, President Boris Yeltsin's newly-appointed representative
in Chechenya did say that he was 'not satisfied' with the implementation
of the military accord hammered out by Russian and Chechen negotiators on
July 30. President of the Chechen Republic Ichkeria Dzhokhar Dudayev stated
that according to the military agreement the Chechen regular army should
not be disarmed.
Shamil Basayev, one of the main Chechen field-commanders, said in an interview
that he had no intention of ordering his men to disarm, he is preparing
for renewed fighting. "For a large number of fighters to surrender
their arms, more than anything you need trust", Basayev said. "I,
on the contrary, am buying arms. Who am I supposed to trust ?".
Basayev claimed to have recently bought an armoured personnel carrier for
$700 and a tank for $2,000. "There will be war", Basayev said,
"about that there is no doubt".
The most difficult aspect of the negotiations are the political
agreements. Russia insists on the integration of Chechenia into the Russian
Federation. The Chechen side insists on the recognition of its independence,
in that the people resisted the russian invasion so determinedly. There
is also in the fact that at the 4th anniversary of Chechen independence,
September 6, many hundreds of thousands celebrated openly on the streets
of Grozny and other towns and villages.
The situation is still tense and complex. Everyday there
are clashes between Chechen fighters an Russian troops. An escalation of
wide-ranging military action may happen at any time.
Dr. Aslambek Kadiev
Special Representant of Republic of Chechenya in European Union.
Dr.Aslambek Kadiev can be contacted at the Diplomatic
Mission of the Republic of Chechenya in Europe: Javastraat 40 A, 2585 AP
The Hague, The Netherlands. Tel. + 31 70 360 33 18 Fax. 31 70 360 33 46.