Russia ends military operation in Chechnya
Russia ordered an end to its counter-terrorism operation in Chechnya today in a move that could lead to the withdrawal of tens of thousands of troops from the southern republic.
The operation led to curfews, limitations on access for journalists and limitations on civilian airline flights, among other measures.
Its cancellation was ordered by President Dmitry Medvedev and took effect this morning, said the National Anti-Terrorist Committee.
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov is a former rebel who has close ties with the Kremlin. He often comes under criticism from human rights groups for running the region with brutality and harsh repression of dissenting views. His security agents are widely accused of kidnapping and killing opponents and suspected rebels.
“Today, the Chechen Republic is, as recognised by thousands of guests including politicians, businessmen, journalists and cultural figures, a peaceful and redeveloping region,” he said. “Ending the anti-terrorist operation will only help the republic’s economic growth.”
An Interior Ministry spokesman said last month that ending the regime could lead to the withdrawal of about 20,000 troops from Chechnya.
Sporadic clashes between militants and troops persist in Chechnya, but major fighting died down several years ago. Russia has poured millions into restoring the Chechen capital Grozny, which artillery assaults and bombing had turned into a near-wasteland.
The anti-terrorist committee statement said ending the operation was aimed at “guaranteeing terms for the further normalisation of the situation in the republic, the restoration and development of its social-economic spheres.”
The first Chechen war began in 1994 as separatists led by the late Chechen President Dzokhar Dudayev pressed to split from Russia. The rebels fought Russian forces to a standstill and the Russian troops withdrew from Chechnya in 1996 under an agreement that left Chechnya de-facto independent.
One of Mr Kadyrov’s most vehement enemies, Sulim Yamadayev, was shot dead in Dubai last month, Dubai police said Mr Kadyrov’s right-hand man, Adam Delimkhanov, was suspected of ordering the killing.
Mr Yamadayev’s brother Ruslan was killed in Moscow last year and reports said Mr Delimkhanov was also suspected in that attack. The deaths eliminated two of Mr Kadyrov’s most powerful opponents.
After the withdrawal, Chechnya was plagued by lawlessness and Islamic fundamentalists became increasingly influential. Chechen fighters invaded neighbouring Dagestan in the summer of 1999, aiming to form an Islamic caliphate in a sector of that republic. Russian troops swept back into Chechnya about a month later.
Although fighting in Chechnya is now limited to occasional small clashes, violence believed to be a spin-off of the Chechen separatist movement is strong in Dagestan and in Ingushetia, which borders Chechnya to the west.
