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RUSSIA
by Patrick La Croix Although they have already lost a fistful of battles, Chechen rebels refuse to concede that they have lost the war. Russian military troops have forced the people of Chechnya to flee their capital city of Grozny for approximately two weeks now. The Russian military, at this time, appears to have almost complete control of the rebel republic. It is believed, however, that at least 7,000 Chechen rebels have set up camp in the southern mountains vowing not to give up. The Chechen rebels look back on their first successful defense of their land from 1994-1996 for inspiration, motivation and confidence in this second round of fighting. While the rebels of Chechnya still carry hope, their outlook, both long and short term, appears to be very bleak. The streets of Grozny, after taking place to heavy bombing and mining, are filled with death and despair, according to Kheida Yusupova. "You didn’t know where to step," Yusupova told the Chicago Tribune of her escape. "We walked through blood and pieces of flesh." Although the Russian Federation and its military appear to be successful in it war on Chechnya, it has not been as prosperous in the battle of public opinion. In particular, the Russian Federation has taken a large amount of criticism from western nations and Russian journalists over the swap of a missing Russian war reporter, whose reports upset Russian authorities, for five detained Russian soldiers. Andrei Babitsky, a reporter for the U.S funded Radio Liberty, is believed to be alive in an unknown Chechen location. Russian authorities have been quick to answer the criticism, however. Vladimir Rushailo, Russia’s Interior Minister, says that the swap was that of a standard procedure and that the magnitude of the criticism has been inappropriate. "The only reason it has taken on such proportions is because he is a journalist," Rushailo told the Rueters Daily News. "We are obliged to do everything to secure the release of our illegally held servicemen and civilians…the situation was resolved correctly and justified." The Russian military has also taken some criticism involving a perception that it has lost all consideration for the human rights of the Chechen citizens. But war is a harsh form of reality and there are reasons for the military’s actions, according to Alexis Klimoff, a professor of Russian studies at Vassar College. "There have been many mistreated and I am sure quite a few have been killed," said Klimoff. "This has been exacerbated by the fact that many Russian soldiers are poorly equipped, badly fed, and hence bitter, apart from not being trained for the type of conflict they are engaged in." |