#11
Chechnya: Rebel Offensive Highlights Moscow's
Difficulties
By Jeremy Bransten
Russian forces today claim they have re-established control over Chechnya's
second-largest town after separatists seized parts of Gudermes yesterday in
their biggest attack in months. The separatists also shot down a federal
helicopter, killing 10 senior Russian officers, including two generals.
Prague, 18 September 2001 (RFE/RL) -- Russian forces in Chechnya were
caught off-guard yesterday by coordinated rebel attacks that took the lives
of at least 10 senior officers and brought chaos to the republic's
second-largest town, Gudermes.
For a time, an estimated 300 rebels succeeded in taking over most of
Gudermes, which is home to 40,000 people. Up until that point, the town had
remained relatively peaceful.
The raid came as a double embarrassment to Russian forces as Gudermes is
the home base of Chechnya's pro-Russian administrator, Akhmad Kadyrov.
Kadyrov blamed the attack on Moscow's special forces, saying the rebels had
managed to enter the town unchallenged, riding on ordinary buses.
At the same time, two generals and eight colonels -- all from the Russian
general staff -- died when rebels shot down their helicopter over the
Chechen capital, Grozny.
Russia's top general in the region, Valery Baranov, says his men have
restored order and have detained more than 400 people suspecting of helping
the rebels in their surprise offensive.
Nevertheless, yesterday's attack again highlights the Russian military's
inability to maintain control over territory in its possession.
Moscow-based commentator Sanobar Shermatova, who has reported on both
Chechen wars for the weekly "Moscow News," sees particular
significance in
the timing of yesterday's attack.
"A similar upsurge in fighting occurred this past May when the Kremlin
announced troop reductions in Chechnya and a partial pullout. Today, we
have exactly the same situation. In October, the defense ministry plans to
reduce the number of its troops in Chechnya and to send the rest to their
barracks."
The May fighting forced Moscow to suspend its withdrawal plans, and
yesterday's attack may have the same effect.
While Russia remains bogged down militarily in Chechnya, the Kremlin has
intensified its diplomatic offensive, aimed at improving its position in
the republic. Kadyrov is due to leave on a tour of the Middle East later
today, where he plans to meet leaders of the Arab world.
During his six-day tour, Kadyrov is scheduled to visit Egypt, Syria, Jordan
and Iraq. Moscow's Chechen administrator is expected to be received by
Hosni Mubarak, Bashar al-Assad, King Abdallah and Saddam Hussein. All of
the muftis of the Northern Caucasus are accompanying Kadyrov.
Shermatova says Kadyrov will try to convince them to stop all efforts to
fund the Chechen rebels:
"I think this is about ensuring that the rebels do not receive help from
the Middle East. Money coming from there either will have to be sent to the
[Moscow-backed] Chechen authorities, or the money will have to go directly
to Chechen civilians. The money must not make it into the hands of the
rebels through underground channels. That's Kadyrov's task, but whether he
succeeds -- that's another matter altogether."
Shermatova says Kadyrov may also have another aim:
"Many Arab countries owe a lot of money to the former Soviet Union --
state
debt. It's possible that Kadyrov will be able to reach agreement with the
leaders of several Arab countries to have the debt returned to Russia so
the money could be used to rebuild the Chechen economy."
Russian politicians have been playing up what they allege is a connection
between Afghan-based terrorist Osama bin Laden and the Chechen rebels,
especially in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United
States. The ITAR-TASS news agency yesterday quoted a spokesman for the
Federal Security Service (FSB) who said computer disks with technical data
on the U.S.-designed Boeing 737 had been seized in a Chechen arms dump,
along with fundamentalist literature.
But so far, no such proof has been made available to the media. Shermatova:
"They tell us that Chechnya is a center of international terrorism, but
we
haven't seen any facts to prove this. The Chechen problem was created in
Russia -- it's a domestic problem. This problem must be resolved by Russia,
and pointing to the fact that buildings were destroyed in New York and
Washington, I think, has no relation to Chechnya."
The world's attention may now have shifted away from Russia's troubled
Caucasus republic, but it does not appear that Moscow will have an easier
time finding a resolution to its troubles there.
