Shamil Basayev; Jihad is only starting to flare up in Ichkeria

Jihad is only starting to flare up in Ichkeria
May 2003

Amir of Brigade of Shaheeds «Riyadus Salihiin» Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris gave an exclusive interview to Shariah news and information agencies on the results of the enlarged session of the Council (Majlis al-Shura) of the Southwestern Front of CRI (Chechen Republic of Ichkeria) Armed Forces. It must be mentioned that the interview was given long before the events in Mozdok and in Argun.

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- Not too long ago an enlarged session of the Council of the Southwestern Front was held with the participation of many leading Chechen Amirs. What was the necessity for that session?

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Praise Allah, the Lord of the worlds, Who created us Muslims and Who blessed us with Jihad on His straight way. Peace and blessing be to His prophet Muhammad, to his family, to his disciples and to all of those who follow him until the very Day of Judgment.

And then: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

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Really, not too long ago an enlarged session of the Council (Majlis al-Shura) of the Southwestern Front was held, even though it should have been called the Great Majlis, because besides the Amirs of the Southwestern Front, the Commander of the Eastern Front, Deputy Commander of the Northern Front and many other well-known Amirs took part in it as well.

The main goal of the session was to strengthen our unity and to discuss the plans on implementation of the spring/summer war campaign, scheduled this year by the Military Council headed by Commander-In-Chief of State Defense Council Majlis al-Shura, our President Aslan Maskhadov.

During these three days that we have spent together we have been discussing many vital issues, we were discussing the current situation, our tactics of warfare - to continue and to increase war operations, as well as the issues of strengthening the unity within our ranks.

On the top of that a great deal of organizational work has been done on forming and organizing the activities of new military sectors, since today the zone of Jihad is expanding and the volume of missions and jobs is expanding accordingly.

In this regard two military sectors have been created within the Southwestern Front: the Sunzha Sector and the Ingush Sector. Council of the Southwestern Front nominated two Commanders of these sectors – Amir Kuri and Amir Muslim, whose names were submitted to President of CRI A. Maskhadov for approval.The candidacy of our friend in battle Amir Khamzat Gelayev was proposed to President of CRI to be nominated as the Commander of Achkhoi-Martan Sector and Amir Abdul-Malik Mezhidov as the Commander of StaroPromyslovsky Sector of our capital Jokhar.

Organization-wise, on the top of all that we have made some corrections to the issues of guerilla warfare and to the issues of intensifying its tactics. We have also adopted decisions on some other important issues of military and strategic importance that we cannot tell at this moment.

Besides, we had yet another common goal: it’s been a while since we got together like that, we’ve been missing one another, and one of our goals was the meeting as it is, live contact, which is of great importance as well, even though today’s situation totally allows us to cooperate in all military issues even without having frequent meetings or sessions.Commander-In-Chief of State Defense Council «Majlis al-Shura» of CRI Aslan Maskhadov was supposed to participate in that session, but for a number of reasons and because of complex military situation he was unable to arrive. He gave us the go-ahead to conduct the session without him.

I believe the session was of tremendous benefit to us: during these three days that we spent together we were sharing our experience of the job done, we were communicating and as a result, we have picked up a lot of useful things from one another.

There was yet another distinguishing feature of that session: for the first time many middle-ranking Commanders were present. They did not have their pictures taken. When we were taking pictures they stepped aside, which is very good, because the enemy does not know most of them today, which in turn is necessary for the new tactics of warfare.

I am grateful to Commander of the Southwestern Front Dokku Umarov for organizing this meeting and for the cordial welcome, I am grateful to all of the brothers who helped us conduct this meeting… Jaza-kallah-Khair!About three hundred of Mujahideen from various Fronts and Directions had gathered. As I said before, one of the Deputies of Amir of the capital’s Direction of our Armed Forces attended the session as well. We all got good rest and ate some good shish kebab.

- In one of his recent addresses to the Chechen Nation President of CRI, Commander-In-Chief of State Defense Council (Majlis al-Shura) A. Maskhadov stated that this spring/summer period will be the last one for the invaders on the Chechen soil. Apparently, the Kafirs (infidels) took that statement seriously, because after this address huge military columns started moving into the territory of Ichkeria, as Shariah information agency reported. How would you evaluate the current military and political situation in CRI? Are the Chechen Mujahideen really capable of conducting a large-scale operation like the one that was carried out in August 1996?

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Insha Allah (God Willing). The mercy of Allah is great, we are hoping for his mercy and for the victory from Allah. Our unity is getting stronger: Jihad in Ichkeria is only flaring up and gaining momentum, which can be seen from the fact that today we are creating new sectors and directions.

Really, we are planning to liberate our Homeland from under the yoke of the invaders, to liberate the Chechen people from oppression, but the will of Almighty Allah is on everything. Last year, the year before last and in the year 2000 we were capable of conducting a large-scale operation similar to the one conducted back in August 1996.

Even though we are not talking about it, every year we have been planning large-scale operations, but there has always been a leak of information, and the Kafirs would always fortify their checkpoints and dispatch more units around the city of Jokhar as far as having armored vehicles and platoons of soldiers every 50 meters around the city. This is exactly what happened last year and the year before last, and this is what will probably happen this year, because even though we do have forces and capabilities for carrying out this operation, there is one problem: the absence of a permanent home front, a permanent base where we could concentrate large forces. Since we cannot have that, the information leaks out and the Kafirs thus block all the roads.

Let’s take the capital of Ichkeria for an example. We can remember how not too long ago Putin was furiously telling the world that 20 checkpoints were removed in Jokhar. But for today all of the checkpoints have remained and been fortified. Just the bars were lifted at two of them for advertising purposes.Jokhar is flooded with the power structures. Today there are more invaders than ever before and it is getting more aggravated by the fact that there is national-traitor scum along with the Kafirs. They are traitors of the Homeland, traitors of their people, traitors of their faith.Our capabilities are huge and the only thing we are missing is secrecy when conducting large-scale operations, because, like I used to say back during the previous war:

«Our secrecy – no secrecies, our secrets – no secrets!» What any Commander knows, any Mujahid soldier knows as well. This is carelessness on our behalf. Openness in many things hinders us from conducting large-scale war operations.Yes, they took the statement of our President Aslan Maskhadov more than seriously, because they know our power and our capabilities, even though they keep lying to their own people and to the entire world. It’s been quite a while since they stopped talking about «20 militants running across the mountains» and since they stopped saying: as soon as we kill Basayev or Maskhadov the war will be over. They have put up with their lot, they have put up with the fact that they have already lost and ended up in a no-go. Our mission today is to give the invaders a good kick to push them to withdraw, and Insha Allah we will do that!

The will of Almighty Allah is on everything, and we will be pressing towards delivering our long-suffered nation from the oppression of Kafirs and from the oppression of national traitors as soon as possible.

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- In one of your statements you were talking about starting Operation Boomerang. What is the mission of that operation and which goals is this operation pursuing?

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Really, we have declared the start of Operation Boomerang. The mission is to stop violence against Chechen girls and women, which cannot even be estimated and calculated today. This is our painful spot and today not only Kafirs but national traitors are involved in those grave crimes as well. National traitors forget that they have sisters, mothers, wives and daughters; they forget that sooner or later those crimes will come back to their families like a boomerang.

Today girls get kidnapped because they merely wear headscarves. Girls and women get kidnapped and raped just because they are wives, sisters or daughters of Mujahideen. We must put an end to it, and every man, every Muslim is obligated to somehow counteract these crimes.The main task and the main mission is to punish those who do it and to punish the ones who bless them to commit these filthy grave crimes.

Today we can see on TV how rapid-reaction units (SOBR) and special-purpose police units (OMON) are getting dispatched down here, and how their wives, their sisters and their mothers are wishing them a good trip. We will be conducting acts of retaliation right in those cities and villages where they came from. Today we have no time to chase every one like Budanov, but we can punish those who bless them to commit these crimes, and we will thus try to somehow stop these atrocities from happening.

Let’s just for an example take the recent case of kidnapping a 30-year-old woman and a 14-year-old girl in the village of Ulus-Kert. They lucked out, they are being charged with a major offense: recruiting Shaheeds who conducted the operation in Moscow, and there is hope that they will still be found alive. (This interview was recorded before the information about their murder came in, - K.C.)

Even if you just use plain logic: who in the world a 14-year-old girl would be recruiting, especially if last year she was 13? These ones are supposed to be a lot more severe than the alleged «female snipers with white stockings on»! The public came out in their defense and there is hope that they will return home alive, but who will need them after that? Who will ever marry them? According to Chechen customs, if a girl spent even one night out of the control of her parents, she is already considered unclean. Even if they will be found alive, their lives have already been ruined, what kind of lot awaits them? Who will be responsible for that? Whose whim lets ruin the lives of innocent people just like that?

Let’s take a look at another example: in Vedeno District one girl called the invaders pigs for the robberies and looting that they were committing. They dragged her away and said she was Khattab’s mistress.These atrocities must be stopped. During the enlarged session of the leadership of Brigade of Shaheeds «Riyadus Salihiin» a decision was made: since Russian invaders and their henchmen are using the principle of collective responsibility in regards to all Chechens, while prosecuting not only the family of a Shaheed, but also his relatives, his loved ones and his acquaintances, then we are also free to make all relatives and loved ones of the invaders responsible, - relatives and loved ones of those who are committing atrocities in our land, and this is why we have decided to launch Operation Boomerang in the homeland of those who on behalf of the Russian people are committing atrocities in the Chechen land. May Almighty Allah help us in it! Allah Akbar!

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- In the history of any nation the names of those who joined the ranks of the invaders were disgraced from generation to generation. What are the national traitors who took service with the invaders are hoping for?

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The thing is that even though this kind of treason in the history of other nations is disgraced, it is not the case with the history of the Chechen people, which was formed by Kafirs and their henchmen. We have always been forgiving and forgetting what national traitors were doing, and these facts from the history have reached us.

How many Naeebs of Imam Shamil were surrendering to Russians and were going in the service with them? We were forgiving all of them, and we were even majestically raising them and making them heroes. Take Haji-Murad as an example. L. Tolstoy wrote a story about him. And Haji-Murad was a very real traitor. He ran to the Russians three times, and the fourth time Russians caught him and cut his head off. The head has never been buried and is still stored in the «Cabinet of Curiosities» Museum in St. Petersburg.

He was a real traitor, but today they are writing songs about him in Dagestan as if he was a brave and courageous man. He was a brave traitor, but not courageous because during tough times he would dump the Muslims and run to Kafirs, and the Kafirs gave him a proper reward for it.Another example is Taimi Beibulat, whom they present as one of the Chechen leaders and national heroes in the history of the Chechen nation. But if you take a close look, that «national hero» went over to Russians two or three times, he was given officers’ ranks, medals and monetary allowance. That man was raised by the Russian invaders. They staked on him and they wanted to appropriate the rest of the Chechen people by making Taimi Beibulat a prince in charge of the «principality».Or let’s take Shamil’s servant Duba, who finally surrendered too. Russians gave him a rank, an estate, and today we even have the village of Duba-Yurt named after him. Up until this day many are proud that he was the servant of Shamil, but for some reason no one ever recalls that at first he was fighting bravely and by the end of his life he became a traitor.Or here is an example of the Chermoyev family. Ortsa Chermoyev was a Russian general. His sons, - Tapa, etc. – were Russian citizens, they were officers and they were given a lot of riches. Today the people are keeping them in their memory as prominent representatives of the Chechen Nation.

There are many similar examples. Take just the heirs of our Sheikhs as an example: Deni Arsanov, who died as a Shaheed in a battle with Russians in the fortress of «Grozny», and his descendants are serving Kafirs these days, they get all kinds of sops and all kinds of ranks. And on the top of all that the people are showing respect to them.

There are a lot of examples like that. We have never punished national traitors. Take the year of 1944 for an example. All of us know full well that when our people were getting deported, the entire Communist Party/KGB staff consisting of Chechens took a separate train with compartment cars, took their belongings and moved to Siberia. These people knew in advance that our people would be deported. They sold their houses and their personal property upfront and even made some profit on it, and in Siberia they had much more benefits than our ordinary people did. Was any one of them ever prosecuted? No. Why? Because someone else is writing our history, because today we do not have any impartial historians who would be capable of writing the truth about the past of the Chechen Nation.

When our people were being deported, all of those archives about our past that we had in storage were destroyed and this is why today we are using the information provided by Russia or by Western sources. This is our trouble. Even those historians and writers that we have are concerned with something else instead of this.

Let’s take our historian Dalhan Hozhayev as an example, who Insha Allah became a Shaheed in this war. However well he was writing and however well he knew history, still he was inclined towards one problem – studying the role of the Beno Clan in the national liberation movement of the Chechen people. I am partly glad that he did not live till these days, because the role of the Beno Clan has turned 180 degrees around.This is the absence of true history of the Chechen Nation (written by our historians familiar with our country, our traditions, our mentality, etc.) and this is the fact that we are easily and comfortably using the unreliable alien information what makes many traitors and renegades our national heroes.

These are the circumstances that let the national traitors have a reason to hope that they can get away with anything and their descendants will go unpunished. Our people have a very short memory concerning the offences and pain. We forget our pain very quickly and this is why many national-traitor scumbags have multiplied today. They are the descendants of those who were selling out their people before.But Insha Allah, the new stage in the history of the Chechen Nation has come today, when national traitors will be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Not by the laws of our personal revenge, but by the laws of the Shariah of Almighty Allah.

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.- Russian mass media made it a rule to talk about your implacable hatred to all Russians and to anything Russian… Is that really so?

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This kind of opinion forming among the public is no more than a part of false propaganda and disinformation, as well as a part of the fight against the Chechen people. I believe that it is of no particular need to answer this question because any person familiar with the religion of Islam knows that a man gets evaluated before Almighty Allah according to how god-fearing he/she is, and not by his/her nationality.

Being a Muslim, not a single person can hate any nation, because each nation has scumbags, or the great ones, or pure people.Speaking about the Russian people, I would like to ask: what part of Russian has remained in those people? Strong degradation has happened and is still happening, and nothing Russian is remaining in those people.

Everything is being destroyed, erased and drunk away… A normal Mulsim cannot observe all of this without pity or compassion, because every Muslim must see the best qualities in people, and we know that Almighty Allah reserved for each man until his death a chance to change and get on the way of the Truth.

We can’t be treating an individual contemptuously only because of his ethnic background or color because we do not know what lot has Almighty Allah prepared for him tomorrow. We can only ask Almighty Allah to show the Way of the Truth to the lost.Speaking about Russian people separately, very many bad things certainly prevail among them. But they have a lot of good things as well. There are many thousands of people whom I consider to be better than my own self, the ones who adopted Islam and who are now sincerely following the way of goodness.

Even from the example of this war I made sure once again: some Russians who adopted Islam were more sincere in their faith before Allah than Chechens who grew up in Muslim families were. I saw that many of them were more sincere before Allah than I am. And today I have many Russian brothers who are Mujahideen and who are waging Jihad shoulder to shoulder with us. Two Russian Mujahideen died when they were guarding me.

No to mention Russian Muslims, there are many people who came from Russian midst, whom I have great respect for, - for their honesty, for their civic position and for their courage. For instance, Rybakov, Deputy of the State Duma, who was born in a prison camp and did 6 years for his convictions in the camps of the Soviet system. In Budennovsk he offered himself in exchange for the hostages. He is a steadfast and uncompromising man, who never sells out his principles or his honor.

Or Sergei Kovalev, a courageous man worthy of respect. Elena Masyuk, who during the previous war was in trenches while trying to deliver the truth about that war. She was crawling in the trenches and the FSB took revenge using our hands.I have respect for Svetlana Sorokina even for the words that she once said: «the conscience of Russian generals cannot be washed off by anything».

This was a deed of heroism today too.I had respect for Solzhenitsyn until he arrived in Russia on a train, like Lenin once did on an armored truck, and until he assumed the role of the «Father of the Nation», which turned out he could not handle. In his books he precisely pointed at the attitude of Chechen people towards Russians or towards other nations; he said that Chechens disdain all slaves, all of those who have put up with their slavish condition, but they help and have respect for those who fight for freedom.

These are the words that can define my attitude towards anything Russian as well. Solzhenitsyn must understand that over these 60 years that have passed ever since, the Chechen people cannot change radically. It was Solzhenitsyn who has changed. This is the whole logic of the situation. Everybody thought he was a lone wolf, but he turned out to be a usual mongrel: he was promised a bigger kennel and an opportunity to bark to his heart's content, and that’s why he betrayed his principles…From the history we know that over 700 Russians were fighting in the troops of Imam Shamil. They were a part of cavalry, infantry, artillery, etc. Many of them adopted Islam, but there were also those who held on to their own belief.

It must be mentioned that in that same city of Vedeno Imam Shamil ones allowed Russian Old Rite Church to open up its temple, where people were praying in accordance with the canons of the Christian religion. It speaks about the tolerance among the Muslims and the Chechens. It also shows our today’s attitude towards the Russians and towards people of other religions, because we have been brought up in the traditions of our ancestors and we are striving for the best qualities that they were possessing.

As our Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say: «Judge the people by their deeds, and not by their words». If we stick to this principle, everything will fall into place.Russian people are degrading and need to be rescued much more than the Chechens do. By the mercy of Allah we are on the way of Jihad, on His straight path. We all must finally die. Almighty Allah says in His Holy Koran:«Say: the death that you flee will meet you».

We have no problems. The only problem that we have is our national traitors from among our people. But by the mercy of Allah Russian people have objectively helped us expose these undercover hypocrites, and we must be grateful for that.Sooner or later we all must die. How we will be dying is important. We have no hatred towards Russians, even to those Russian slaves who are trampling our land today; we have only pity and disdain for them, and no more than that.

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- America has invaded Iraq and has already marked new victims while going to keep waging the war. What do you think the world will be facing in the nearest future?

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By the mouth of Bush the entire world of Kufr (unbelief) has stated that it is going to establish democracy all around the world by force: the democracy the way they see it. Actually, it is conspiracy against the entire world. Against the entire mankind. I called him Adolf Bush because he is not much different from Hitler who was trying to establish the new world order too, but in his own way with the supremacy of the Aryan Race. Bush decided to establish the «American democracy».

There is no difference between them except for the terms that they used. The principles are all the same: belligerent ignorance and fascism. Sure, Bush’s plans are posing a threat to many dictatorships. Today they are panicking and changing their diapers, but I think ordinary Muslims will only benefit from it because the Muslims, who are now gripped in the vice of dictatorship of their regimes and who cannot breathe freely, will be able to lift up their heads and take a long breath during all of this turmoil. I think it will be to the advantage of Islam and will help all of the Muslims to get up from their knees and unite.

The actions of the only remaining superpower today are reminding of the fall of the Roman Empire, when they had virtually no enemies in the world whatsoever, no large powers that would be able to oppose them, but after some time however hordes of Barbarians defeated the Roman Empire. Today the situation is the same: luxuries, depravity, seeming material wealth during total spiritual and moral bankruptcy and corruptness have reached unheard-of heights just like during the Roman Empire… Degradation of the nation is obvious, - it is a natural process, even though the country’s leadership is trying to stop it, it won’t make it because Satan is leading the West to the precipice.

Multiple claims that America launched a crusade do not reflect the reality either. There is nothing crusading in America’s actions, this is a satanic campaign against the entire world, against anything sacred in this world, against Islam, against Christianity, against Judaism, - it is the attack of the belligerent Kufr (world of unbelievers), the attack of godlessness and Satanism against the Faith on all fronts and all levels under the guise of all sorts of slogans.

This campaign is threatening the entire world with huge chaos, major upheavals and wars, but sooner or later the Truth will triumph, the Goodness and Justice will win, and the New World Order based on the laws of the Great Creator, the Lord of the Worlds, will be established on Earth. And we are convinced of that, and Insha Allah (God Willing), we will put all of our efforts to it. And may Great Allah help us in it!

Commander Khattab Statement

17, July 2001
Statement of the military Amir of Majlis ul Shura Khattab

It should be known to the entire world, especially the Muslims, that Jihad will continue until the Day of Judgement (as stated by Prophet Muhammad (SAWS). Jihad will not stop because of the martyrdom of Abu Umar Al-Najdi (Yarmook), or Arbi Barayev (may Allah have mercy on them). It will not skip a beat even if commander Khattab, Basayev, or anyone else is killed. Jihad is one of the obligations of Islam and the Chechen Jihad is not tied to an individual or a commander.

It is however tied to the Commander of all the Mujahideen, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (SAWS). If a Mujahid or a commander is martyred, Insha Allah, there are many others that can step in and fill his place. Finally, Allah had bestowed a blessing upon this great nation. When one Mujahid falls, 10 others rise and keep the torch of Jihad and fighting for the Sake of Allah burning bright.

Let us all remember that what happened to commanders Abu Umar, Arbi, Jafar, and the others (may Allah have mercy upon them all) is exactly what they were hoping for. These were men who truly understood the honour of martyrdom and yearned for it with every cell in their body. And now they have earned the martyrdom of heroes while attacking the enemy not running away from them and after having killed so many of them. Insha Allah they are those about whom Allah has said,

"Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed...." (Noble Quran 9:111)

It is now a must for every Muslim around the world not to give up on the Mercy of Allah, and to increase their dua and pleading to Allah to bestow victory upon the Mujahideen. I ask Allah to make us all Mujahideen in His sake and for His pleasure. Assalamu Alaikum.

Interview with Commander Khamzat Gelayev

Interview with Commander Khamzat Gelayev
27 October 2003

Chechen Press (CP): Khamzat, it's been a few years already since Moscow's appointee Kadyrov has been saying that he's been conducting negotiations on laying own arms. What kind of protracted negotiations are they? How are they going?

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Commander Gelayev (CG): Only from Kadyrov’s statements I personally know about some negotiations that Kadyrov is allegedly conducting with me. He is a shameless man because he is not shunning blatant lies. There has never been and there can never be any contact whatsoever between me and despicable traitor Kadyrov. The only possible contact with Kadyrov will take place only in the Shariah Court, where I will appear, if Allah allows me, to testify before the Judges and before the Chechen people about the treason and the crimes that this man has committed.

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CP: What is your attitude towards the recent «presidential elections» in Chechnya?

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CG: I’ve read in one book about how Russian generals invited the highlander elders and informed them that the Turkish Sultan ceded the Caucasus to the Russian Czar. Then one of the elders pointed at a bird flying in the sky and said: «General, I let you have that bird, catch it!» And I would like to say: let Russians comfort themselves with all kinds of elections and referendums, while trying to prove their right to own our land. Let them lie to their own selves and to others. As long as we live, they will never be masters on our lands.

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CP: What do you think, will we win in this war?
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CG: Allah sees that we are defending what is ours, He sees that the truth and the justice is on the side of the Mujahideen (fighters), and He is always helping those who fight for justice on His straight way. Praise be to Him! We will surely win as long as we banish arrogance from our hearts and strife from our ranks. The Mujahideen understand it and therefore today we are like fingers clenched in a fist.

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CP: Lately some Chechens from Kadyrov's collaborator formations started taking active part on the side of the Russians in the battles against Mujahideen. What can you say in this regard?

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CG: In the whole world there is no nation that would have no traitors coming out of its midst. Chechens are no exception unfortunately. Many of these traitors just have no place to go; experts from the FSB (Russian Federal Security Bureau, former KGB) and GRU (Main Intelligence Directorate) have tied them up with the blood of their fellow countrymen, they are facing a death threat from Russians if they stop faithfully serving them; and they are facing a death threat from Chechens if they lose the protection from their masters, - from the secret services. These are the ones that our Saints made a prediction about in the old days: that they will be eliminated from both sides – from both Chechen and Russian sides, as soon as Russians start fleeing from Chechnya.

However, I would like to be more specific: the absolute majority of «Chechen policemen» has not been stained with the blood of their fellow countrymen yet, even though Russians and Kadyrov are making every effort to make them do that. These policemen can still come back, we are not touching them if they lay down arms. And this is the way it happens most of the time.

Everybody can remember that Zavgayev had either 15 or 18 thousand «Chechen policemen», but as soon as we entered Grozny in August 1996, they all scattered and went home, then they went over to the Mujahideen, except for a few dozens of those who were guilty of shedding Chechen blood. There is nothing new in the present situation either.

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CP: What is the attitude of Chechen population towards the Mujahideen? Has anything changed after the first war?

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CG: Of course, something has changed. Many people believed that the atrocities that Russian invaders were committing against Chechen population during the first war were impossible to repeat or surpass. By we were wrong and we underestimated Russia. By closing Chechnya from the outside world, including from Russia, Russian raiders are doing horrifying things here. These things are hard to describe, they are causing so much of abhorrence.It is hard to understand where the people are coming from who are capable of digging in a live human body for hours when conducting tortures. We are discovering bodies with insides torn out, with eyes plucked out, with heads scalped, with tongues cut off – and often all of these are traces of tortures are left on one dead body. I will never forget a tin bucket found where Russians were staying. There was a boiled human head in it. A lot of things I just can’t say.What I’m talking about is that Russian butchers are trying to bind Chechens with fear. And it is no secret that many of the Chechens, who are intimidated, want to stand aloof from what’s going on and who fear for their lives and for the lives of their families. But there are also many of those who help us with food, money - and the main thing - with information on movement of the invaders, with reports on snitches, etc. We are also getting the information on the butchers who commit atrocities against Chechens, figuring that after going back to Russia they would be safe. Allah is the witness that these hopes are vain. We will do all that the human power allows to bring retaliation to the home of each murderer of the Chechen people.

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CP: The Western press launched unprecedented criticism against Putin and his policies in Chechnya. Are you expecting any positive changes in the West's position concerning Chechnya?

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CG: Waves rise and fall, but hardly anything changes from that. It is up to our political leaders to be watching for the position of the West or the East. Maybe by the will of Allah help will come from somewhere, but I still think that our destiny is in our own hands, because the Almighty says: «Indeed, for ye is what ye shall judge».Someone said that in the world we are living in a man is more concerned about a pimple on his nose rather than starvation in China, where millions of people are dying. The Koran condemns such indifference as the gravest sin, but it seems like our fellow coreligionists are more afraid of Russia or America than they fear Allah. Even though it will not be Bush or Putin judging them in the afterlife, but it will be the Almighty Lord of the Worlds. Praise be to Him, His help and His protection is enough for us!

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CP: And the last question that I ask all Chechen leaders and military Commanders whenever possible: when by the will of Allah the invaders and their stooges get out of our land, will the mistakes made in the period between the two wars and which seem to many ordinary Chechens as the biggest disgrace throughout the entire history, be repeated again? I mean the crime, kidnapping to get ransom, and religious demagoguery on the top of lawlessness?

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CG: I’m not one of those who blame these disgraceful acts only on the subversive activities of Russian secret services. Although, everybody can see an indicative pattern: the main kidnappers, such as Kadyrov or Yamadayev, turned out to be servants of Russian invaders, and others just disappeared somewhere. Ask the Ingushetians, for an example, they will tell you a lot of things about the «exploits» Kadyrov or Yamadayev in abducting people. But still, all of these facts are not exonerating those who were the leaders of Chechens, including myself. We learned our lessons and Allah is the witness that we will no longer be standing aside and watching how crime and banditry start raging. Now everybody understood what kind of damage these criminals have done to our independence. And they will all be given a short shrift.-Thank you for your interview!

The interview was conducted by T. Abubakarov

2001 Amir Shamil Basayev; Negotiations or «negotiations»?

Negotiations or «negotiations»?

18/01/2001

Amir (Commander) of the Supreme Military Madzhlisul Shura of the Mujahideen, Shamil Basayev has addressed the editors of «Kavkaz Center» with the special statement concerning the negotiations between representatives of President Maskhadov and Putin that took place last year and possibly will take place in the future.«Kavkaz-Center» has published the full text of the statement of Amir of the Supreme Military Madzhlisul Shura of the Mujahideen, Shamil Basayev. The statement has been delivered to the editors by the special courier from Ichkeria.

Bismillahi-Rahmani-Rahim! (In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful!)

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, Who made us Muslims and blessed us with Jihad on His Straight Path!

Peace and blessings to Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him), His Family, his disciples and all of those who follow him till the Judgement Day!

And then:

Almighty Allah (SWT) in the Holy Koran says: «And if they shall incline to peace, you shall incline to peace also, and rely on Allah, for He is the Hearing, the Knowing!» (The Spoils, 61)

Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h.) said: «Any condition that is not in the Koran is invalid, even if there might be a hundred of those conditions».In the month of November a meeting of A.Zakayev and Kazantsev was held at the Moscow Airport, while Putin was visiting America.The Supreme Military Madzhlisul Shura of the Mujahideen expressed dissatisfaction with that meeting. For that reason, some bad politicians started to blame us in unwillingness to stop the war and establish peace in our land.

Also, many Muslims have been asking us to explain the reason for our negative opinion about that meeting. We are giving a brief explanation of our position and reasons for our dissatisfaction.Shari’ah has a stipulation that conducting of any negotiations should result in consolidation of Islam and strengthening of the Islamic Ummah (Nation). Accordingly, during the preparations and choosing the place and form of conducting negotiations it is necessary to hold on to the same conditions, namely:

First meeting must be conducted with no preliminary conditions from the side of kafirs (infidels, unbelievers) and they must officially declare it, instead of screaming all over the world that only conditions of surrendering weapons by the Chechen side will be discussed. That actually points to the goal of Russists (Russian side)- that they are not searching for peace but extracting a benefit for themselves and harming our side. Therefore there is no sense to have a meeting with them.If Russians are declaring that they will conduct negotiations only with those «whose hands are not besmirched with blood», then the Chechen side had to declare that it will conduct negotiations only with those whose «face is not besmirched with blood».

Once they refused to demand the same, President Maskhadov and Zakayev, actually before the negotiations started, acknowledged themselves as the side with no rights. As though there were some who were «not too besmirched» and that could be «washed off». They also acknowledged that «Russist» boar Kazantsev, whose face is up to the ears besmirched with blood of Chechen people, is the side that has the rights including the rights to keep pouring blood of our people.Time and form of conducting negotiations must be chosen by both sides.

It cannot be postponed with no serious reasons and it cannot be scheduled according to Putin's tours.Chechen side had no choice but to play the role of a panhandler and during the whole month wait for the news on TV when Kazantsev will finally spare his «precious» time. Zakayev had to learn the lesson from May 1996 when he (and the number of others) was a hostage in Moscow, while Yeltsin was gone to Khankala.The place for conducting negotiations shows how serious the negotiations are and how the accepting side treats them. Even mid-level businessmen never set up appointments in the waiting hall at the airport.

Only small-time scam artists would do such a thing so that they could pose as VIPs cheaply and more easily. This way they would create an inconvenient and hasty environment for a dummy, impelling him to make a mistake that they need. In case of unsuccess, it would be easy to get off the hook, - and go figure.The issue of war and peace must be solved by anybody but the Ministry of Culture. And for the meeting on such a level it was enough to delegate a leader of one of the departments of the Foreign Ministry of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.Mujahideen, and their leaders in particular, must be at least in touch with the subject of the negotiations and their results. All of this cannot be a secret for those who actually fight and on whom depends the issue of war and peace. We will not accept the results of separate negotiations and will not allow anybody to make decisions about our destiny without us.If Zakayev had a serious intension to discuss the results of the meeting with Mujahideen, then he was obligated to immediately set the conditions for the negotiations:

Russians must stop any active military operations for a week and take down certain checkpoints so that the Resistance leaders could freely travel in the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. That had not been done. And after Maskhadov declared about the meeting to discuss the negotiations, parts of Vedeno and Nozhai-Yurt districts were blocked by Russians with a large number of troops for this year. During a month and a half, «in search for the leaders of the militants» the people were constantly being terrorized and robbed.That's all the results of the meeting at the airport.We are not against the negotiations. We are against half-and-half illiterate decisions that lead to the deviation from Shari’ah requirements, loss of freedom earned in bloody battles, and the split among Muslims.The hardest part of the war, Insha'Allah (God willing), is left behind and the time is on our side. We are getting stronger day after day and the resistance of our people against the invaders is growing. We just have to calmly, patiently, trying to avoid previous mistakes, lead the Jihad to the complete victory and by the mercy of Allah (SWT) we will win!The Almighty Allah says in the Koran: «How often a small group, by the will of Allah, has won a numerous group! Indeed, Allah is with the patient!» (Baqara, The Cow, 249)

The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: «...but remember that Allah will bring to abstinence from all evil only those who will strive towards it; He will enrich those who will not need help from others and He will give power to endure to those who will show endurance, for no one has received a better and more generous gift than patience!»

May Allah (SWT) help us on His Straight Path!

Allahu Akbar!!!

Amir of the Supreme Military Madzhlisul Shura of the Mujahideen
Abdullah Shamil Basayev.

Johar- Grozny, January 18, 2001

Interview with Ex-President of CRI Zelimkhan Yandarbi

Interview with Ex-President of CRI Zelimkhan Yandarbi

09/12/2003

Question (Q): Salam Aleikum, Zelimkha! The Kremlin regime and the contingent of so-called «muftis» (or clergy) of Russia, which is serving this regime, is imposing an opinion that Russia is an ally of the Islamic world and therefore the Muslims living under Russian invasion are supposed to have a goal to help the Kremlin strengthen the potential of the declining Russian empire. How do you see the real situation with the position of Muslims in Russia in the context of Russia's both domestic and foreign policies?

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Z. Yandarbi (ZY): Wa salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu!First, I must mention that in Islam there is no such institution as clergy, even though some «activists» in togas of Muslim alims (scholars) have been aiming at this kind of concept even since the times of the USSR on the order from KGB (FSB). They are even inventing some attributes and elements of clothes that are different from commonly accepted ones, which actually remind more of robes of a khan’s lackeys than religious scholars. It is being done in order to strengthen the control by Russian secret services over the Muslims. That is, it is additional control and new limitation of freedoms of the believers. From the standpoint of the state’s policies, it is discrimination of Muslims, which the Kremlin has been carrying out for a long time and on purpose.

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It must be explained that an Islamic scholar is not an official for the Muslims under any circumstances, and his authority is not based on any authoritative powers, but only on his competence in religion and in god-fearing attitude towards his own self and towards everybody around him, including people of different beliefs. His main duty is to bring the knowledge to the believers about their faith, in strict compliance with the Shariah, and keep Muslins from anything sinful in their lives.But he can’t be taking on the prerogatives of the Most High or assuming a role of a mediator between Allah and the believers on any issues whatsoever. His role concerning the Muslim community is to call for righteousness, to comment on the Holy Koran and on the authentic Sunnah, to preach the way of the Shariah and solve any arguments and problems in the community based on the Shariah.If you consider the situation the Muslims in Russia are in, while proceeding not from a propagandistic myth spread through the press and through the media by the official propaganda and secret services of the Russian Federation, but while facing the reality of Islam and the Muslims, then the situation looks merely catastrophic.

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Muslims in Russia have been outlawed, even though they were granted all advertised constitutional rights like everybody else was.As far as Russia being an ally of the Islamic world, I must say that objectively only a state where laws and living practice are based on righteousness and justice can be an ally of the Islamic world, which does not apply to Russia at all, where not only Muslims, but the rest of the citizens are getting discriminated against.The international community can see it more and more clearly each day. People of good will and conscience inside Russia have been continually talking about it for quite a while, even though their voices are sinking in the sea of irresponsible and even commonplace speeches and resolutions of the international organizations and forums, which are presented to the pubic opinion, especially to an average citizen, as guarantees of these rights and freedoms in the international state policies of the UN members as well as in each country individually.Moreover, Russia is not capable of being an ally of even the neighboring Slavic nations, which Russia has been showing throughout many centuries of its history, and which can bee seen even in modern times from the example of its attitude towards Ukraine and Belarus. At times it even seems like it was a historical and scientific mistake to rank Russians among the Slavs, because its state policies and national mentality are most often showing the nature of a horde with the permanent desire to subdue, to conquer, to burn, to crush and to humiliate someone.

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Until they get rid of it, the Russian state will not be capable of being anybody’s ally in any righteous deed. Another aspect must be mentioned too. Russia is creating and using the myth of alliance with Islam in order to oppose the US, as well as itЎЇs using another myth of the so-called «Islamic threat» to the West. What’s more, Russia derives a lot of benefit from the confrontation between the US and the Islamic countries, and Russia is doing all it can not to let the Arab-Israeli conflict subside and to unleash a new conflict. Even on the issue of the Iraqi aggression Russia was more interested in its beginning and the more protracted nature of this war, rather than solving the problem politically. And Russia got what it wanted, while pushing the US and the coalition to start a new war at the same time and imitating the «efforts on peace settlement». Because after unleashing the war and getting mired in it, the US lost a lot more than it gained.But Russia's main achievement in this intrigue was to create such a conflict between the US and the Arab world, which would eventually dissipate the image of America in the international politics as a country preferring to solve problems by using political and economic methods, which was actually achieved. And Russia's genocidal war against the Chechen people, which has been continuing for the past virtually eight years and has mainly been aimed against the Islamic component of the Chechen nation, its culture and Islamic self-identity, its world outlook and perception, and against the Islamic social and spiritual foundation of the Chechen nation, rules out any duty of a Muslim to this state, while living under Russian state tyranny.

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The very first duty of any true believer in One Creator of all worlds is defense of faith, truth and justice on the earth, which applies to your own self as well as to the community, the nation, to all people and to anything that lives, by any means available. To protect from any tyranny by a person, organization or state and promote the achievement of good and justice concerning any living being. And this is called the Jihad.

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Q: Many believe that after the arrests of prominent businessmen, after elimination of independent mass media in Russia, and after the review of the privatization results, the West changed its attitude towards the Putin regime. Today Russia's membership in G8 has allegedly been questioned. In your opinion, do you think the West may take any real steps concerning the Putin regime?

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ZY: I can’t be saying that the West changed its attitude towards the Putin regime right away. Although, I would call this regime a traditionally Russian regime, not the Putin regime. Especially, you can’t say that Russia's membership in G8 has been questioned. Personal opinions of the analysts and even some individual high-ranking politicians cannot correlate with the opinion and policies of the elite organization of the world’s economic giants. It’s just not real.

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This organization is moved by the interests and instincts incomparably more global than the fates of individual tycoons or even entire nations, which can be graphically seen from the fate of the Chechen nation, for example. But there is some real motion towards the objective comprehension of Russia's current state by the authorities of the international community that can be felt even at the level of political intuition, at the level of instinct of self-preservation or defense from the threat that Russia is showing more and more demonstratively in its actions. But I think that even that can tangibly affect the image of the Russian state and the effectiveness of Russia's foreign policies. I think in the near future no masks will be capable of concealing the antihuman face of the Russian military and political regime.

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Q: Some observers believe that the crisis in Georgia, which entailed the resignation of President Shevardnadze and nationalist forces coming to power, was caused by some agreement between the US and Russia. What do you think, whose role is more important in the current events in Georgia?

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ZY: I can’t agree with this opinion even for my respect towards the Georgian people. Although, there are such incorrect versions expressed in the press. Both the US and Russia are playing an important role in solving topical problems in making of the states in the post-Soviet space, including independent Georgia. But it’s important to know that the US is doing it as a real superpower actively aimed at major globalization of its role all around the world, and Russia is doing it as a neighboring country, as the empire that loses its former occupied territories and its prestige in the world.

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These two geopolitical centers can have no direct agreement on Georgia or on any other country of their direct or indirect influence, even if somebody would want them to. Besides, it seems to me that the times like the Molotov-Ribbentrop (USSR-Germany) accords are long gone. What happened in Georgia is another step in the natural process of making of independence of the most ancient nation in the Caucasus, which is happening against anybody’s will.Following the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, Georgia is already close to transform into a truly independent state out of being a Russian colony. As we can see, even the predatory overthrow of the first legitimate President of Georgia Gamsakhurdia by Russian secret services in the end of 1991, which was made to make way for their protege Shevardnadze, did not interrupt this process. Shevardnadze turned out to be quite steadfast and wise enough to minimize the influence of the Russian factor in the life of modern Georgia.

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Among the stiff pressure, among the realities and Russia's aggressive policies, Shevardnadze did not become the Kremlin’s puppet. I think this fact from ShevardnadzeЎЇs biography is the reason why his rule ended in such a mild way, notwithstanding his guilt of overthrowing President Gamsakhurdia and acting unjustly towards him.

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Actually it must be mentioned that there is a very important and even determining factor on this point: civil political maturity of the Georgian people, who managed to dictate their will to the state leaders and national leaders in the very difficult conditions of the past ten to fifteen years.

The role of the US and Russia in what’s happening in Georgia today cannot be defined as united and balanced policies of these powers. They both are acting independently, and either one of them has its own ambitious tendencies. And in the final analysis it will depend on their real behavior and on how the Georgian people will view who will maintain the image of new Georgia’s ally. Because national self-consciousness of a free nation moves such processes exclusively in all times.

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Q: Russian politicians were hinting that Shevardnadze's resignation would entail the collapse of Georgia. Among these hints Russian leadership started conducting more frequent meetings with the leaders of Adjaria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, -- the regions which have not been coordinating their actions with Georgian central government in Tbilisi. South Ossetia already announced it would not nominate its own presidential candidate for Georgia and would not even open polling stations on its territory on the elections day on January 4. Can you say that all of them are acting on the instructions from Moscow?

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ZY: No doubt about it! In the situation that develops now Moscow is trying to restore its influence on Georgia that it had lost, and at the same time Moscow is counting on Abkhazia, Adjaria and South Ossetia, or on their leaders rather, who cast in their lot with Moscow since they came to power backed by Moscow, which the entire world can see.But it’s not only the desire of the Russian leadership. You can judge on the condition and the position of Russian public by the poll conducted by Echo of Moscow radio, when most of the respondents answered about the future of Abkhazia and Adjaria that they must be integrated into Russia.Russian public opinion is best showing that the disease of Russism (Russian chauvinism) in the Russian society is hiding much deeper than the political establishment of the KGB (FSB) police state.

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Q: It is a known fact that there was an agreement on collective security signed between Georgia and Russia. Shevardnadze's government signed a similar agreement with the US. Is there a chance that the relations between the US and Russia may get aggravated due to the Georgian factor?

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ZY: I don’t think it will be real for many reasons, and first of all, for the reasons expounded in our conversation. All possible aggravations between the US and Russia on this issue have already taken place at the primary stage of spreading the American influence in the Southern Caucasus. Right now there can only be some attempts made to outplay each other in tactics. Strategically, Russia has lost. And the US should not force the situation. And therefore I think they will be relying on the factor of time, while providing political cover and backup for their policies.

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Q: Can the present situation in Georgia have a positive effect on the situation in CRI (Chechen Republic of Ichkeria)? It's a known fact that Georgia was the first to recognize the independence of CRI when Zviad Gamsakhurdia was President, and the leaders who came to power in Georgia today actually did not make a secret out of their sympathies with the fight of the Chechen people against the empire?

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ZY: Yes, there were some moments when the Georgian leaders expressed the spirit of solidarity with the fight of the Chechen people, and they were showing solidarity every now and then as far as possible, which shows their understanding of the issue of their security and of what the future of the Chechen nation will be, including of how far away Russia will get from their border. As far as recognizing the independence of CRI by Gamsakhurdia’s government goes, this fact really took place, although not at the right time or at the right place as we would want it to. And those who have a cool attitude towards what is happening in CRI today should have learned the lessons from that. No doubt, it’s a fact that the strengthening of the Georgian state will have a positive effect on the future of the Chechens and on the situation in Chechnya. It can be confirmed by historical and modern realities of our common future.

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Q: Many observers believe that the Kremlin's policies aimed at the restoration of its influence in the post-Soviet space are one of the key destabilizing factors. As the most recent example, I can bring up the situation in Moldova, where the opposition demands that the government rejects the plan of settling the Trans-Dnestrian conflict that Russia has proposed. Moscow's attempt to impose this plan on Moldova has virtually failed thanks to the position of the West on many aspects. Can the West be considered as an ally in the fight for independence of the Chechen people?

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ZY: I think the West can actually be viewed as ally in the fight of the Chechen people for independence to a certain extent, and especially meaning the people and social organizations of the West. But the main support in our fight must certainly be the faith in Allah and the will of the people.No one, even the kindest nations on earth, will bring another nation freedom or independence, or will die for it especially. You donЎЇt become free by somebody’s good will, but you become free by the will of the people who strive for being free, who dare be free in other words!

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Q: How do you think you can view the slogan «my enemy's enemy is my friend»?

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ZY: I'd like to take the opportunity and express my strong disagreement with the principle of «my enemy's enemy is my friend», which Movladi Udugov (Chairman of External Subcommittee of Informational Council of CRI), whom I have great respect for, put forward while searching for allies in our struggle. For me such a principle is not acceptable, and I don't think it has ever been or will ever be the principle in the acts of the Chechen Resistance. And especially it can never become the ideological aspect of the Holy Jihad on the way of Allah.

Our fight is for freedom and independence, which are impossible in isolation from the lofty ideals of good, justice, honor and conscience prescribed by the Almighty Creator of all worlds to the mankind. And we can't be adopting just any principles, especially such doubtful principles just because we're having a very hard time. Any enemy of our enemy cannot be our helper. While proclaiming the principle of «my enemy's enemy is my friend» we take the path of our enemy and of all tyrannies of the world that have been terrorizing the mankind in different corners of the globe throughout the entire world's history.

I'm sure that while proclaiming this kind of principle of cooperation, Movladi Udugov just meant the need to unite for all who are terrorized by Russian military and political KGB power. And therefore I would like to offer my associate to correct the principle that he declared. And that's when everybody will be winners, and Chechens first of all, whose lofty ideals for freedom have been admiring all people of good will all around the world throughout many centuries.

Q: The recently pronounced verdict in London Court on the 'Zakayev Case' actually recognized the position of the Chechen side, which claims that it is a war between two states going on in Chechnya, and not some mythical 'antiterrorist operation'. As you know, right away Russia accused London of having double standards and of almost supporting 'international terrorism'. Some Russian politicians are even considering the Court's verdict as manifestation of historical dislike of Britain towards Russia.

ZY: I think that Russian political circles and the very leadership perfectly understand that Britain will never go as far as expressing its dislikes towards Russia. Here you can't even presume an alternative precedent. But in order to put up a bold front, Russian officials need some bluff and they savor it any way they can. And the London Court just reached the verdict based on the laws of the state, and not proceeding from the principle of political expediency or wishes of state officials, like it's the case in Russia. Certainly, the fair verdict on the «Zakayev Case» only strengthened London's image on the international arena, which the British government and Blair personally needed so much after they started having serious problems concerning the unseemly role in the Iraqi campaign.

Q: We know you keep up your creative work, you are writing books and poems. Many of them have been translated to other languages and are read in various corners of the globe. We found out that Belarusian poets translated some of your works. Could you tell us a little more about it?

ZY: There really are some translations into other languages of the world, not that many though. There are some translations into Belarusian as well, and right now a collection of poems is just about to be published, translated by nationally renowned poet of Belarus Rygor Baradulin. By the way, he wrote very interesting poems about Chechnya too. I'd like to take the opportunity and express my profound gratitude to the political activists of that country, represented by Zianon Pazniak, to the cultural activists of Belarus represented by Rygor Baradulin, and to many others for their actions and their words of support on the just cause of the struggle of the Chechen people. I think their position is the vivid expression of the position of all Belarusian people.

To Mr. Zelimkha Yandarbi

Live forever, oh great Chechnya!

Let the souls of the weak vanish.

Undefeated nation worthy of being called genius

And worthy of gratitude of forgetful centuries.

Souls of the strong will not become apostates,

They won't exchange their land for paradise.

And God hath sent them into this world as Chechens

To love and to protect their land from gangs.

Just like before the Sun,

Shall I get on my knees

Before the Soul holy in its battle.

Oh Chechnya honored by Heaven,

Canst thou hear the Belarusian Horseman rushing to thee?

Rygor Baradulin, nationally renowned poet of Belarus.

Translated by Kavkaz-Center(The Horseman is Belarusian national coat-of-arms - a horseman with a shield and a sword, who protects the Homeland).Zianon Pazniak

To honorable Zelimkha Yandarbi

The Spring of Victory

Wonderful time will come.

Flags of freedom flying over Chechnya.

Here they are!

Flowing from the high mountains in a stream.

Here they are!Green valleys of white-red-and-white roses.

This path on the banners

Like a flame in the hearts

Unquenchably burning for us.

(Warsaw, October 29, 2003)Recorded by Ahmad of Ichkeria,