Elected Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov supported the U.S.-led coalition's intervention into Iraq.

http://www.taraskuzio.net/media/chechnya.pdf ^ | September 4, 2003 | Taras Kuzio

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Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov supported the U.S.-led coalition's intervention into Iraq.

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Putin seemed to place the blame for the increased terrorist activity in Russia on unspecified outside forces that are threatened by Russia's nuclear-power status. "Some would like to tear from us a juicy chunk," Putin said. "Others help them. They help, reasoning that Russia still remains one of the world's major nuclear powers, and as such still represents a threat to them. And so they reason that this threat should be removed. Terrorism, of course, is just an instrument to achieve these aims." Because Russia's nuclear arsenal is targeted primarily at the United States, Putin seemed to be referring directly to that country. (Victor Yasmann)
http://www.rferl.org/reports/rpw/2004/09/35-100904.asp

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Putin's statements about external forces working against Russia through terrorists were addressed to his domestic audience, in an effort to avoid political responsibility for the failure of his policies in Chechnya and the Caucasus. He also undoubtedly wishes to avoid forcing his beloved state-security organs to be accountable for this stark failure to protect Russian citizens. The externalization of culpability is often a defense of those in weak positions. (Victor Yasmann)
http://www.rferl.org/reports/rpw/2004/09/35-100904.asp

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The country's political parties -- on both ends of the political spectrum -- have only slowly been aroused from their lethargy and begun to criticize Putin's claims of external forces behind the wave of terror. In a statement posted on its website (http://www.kprf.ru) on 7 September, the Communist Party said, "The roots of the tragedy can be found not in 'international terrorism,' which is a convenient smokescreen for the drama, but inside the country."
http://www.rferl.org/reports/rpw/2004/09/35-100904.asp

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http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/9/E96285D0-997C-447A-A61B-47F6D2E31E26.html

Chechen Leader Says Basaev Will Be Tried After War

Chechen leader Maskhadov (file photo)

24 September 2004 -- Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov says once the war is over in Russia's breakaway republic, radical field commander Shamil Basaev will be put on trial for the massive hostage taking in Beslan.


Basaev has claimed responsibility for the seizure of a school in Beslan, North Ossetia, in early September that ended in the killing of more than 330 people, roughly half of them children.

Russian authorities have blamed Basaev and Maskhadov equally for the raid and announced a $10 million bounty for information leading to their capture.

In his statement on a rebel website today, Maskhadov again denied any link to the attack. But he warned that the continuing war in Chechnya will "inevitably" lead to an increase in terrorist acts.

A Russian military spokesman, Ilya Shabalkin, said at least nine rebels were killed in fighting in Chechnya overnight.

(chechenpress.com/Reuters/AFP/Itar-TASS)

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http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/9/E365486B-2F03-4C85-93C2-57396D3A32BA.html

Lithuania Rejects Moscow Request To Close Chechen Site

15 September 2004 -- Lithuania yesterday refused Russia's request to shut down a pro-Chechen website, and the Vilnius-based Internet service provider refused to remove it as well.

The Kavkaz Center, founded in 1999, reports about events in Russia, Chechnya, and Muslim countries and supports the positions of separatists in Chechnya.

The Russian Foreign Ministry yesterday requested that Lithuania close the site (http://www.kavkazcenter.com), which is hosted by Vilnius-based Elneta service provider.

However, a Lithuanian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mindaugas Lasas, today said the site cannot be shut down without a court order.

Elneta said it cannot remove the site because it violates no law in Lithuania.

Earlier this month, the site published Chechen separatists' pledge to pay $20 million for any assistance leading to the capture of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

(AP)