Why Do Chechen Mujahideen Blow Themselves Up
Movladi Udugov: «I think that it is not the last Kamikaze operation».
From
the Editor-in-Chief of the GT: The interview has been provided specially
for the GT by a representative of Chechen News Agency «Caucasus
Centre». We shall refrain from disclosing the identity of this person for
the sake of his safety. 3 years ago the interview with Movladi Udugov was
followed by the crackdown on the ethnic Chechens by the Georgian law-enforcers.
Russia
misrepresented the previous interview with Movladi Udugov and forced the
Georgian authorities to conduct the cleansing of the Chechens on the Georgian
soil. The editorship of the GT hopes that the similar operation will never
be conducted again. Publishing this interview, our purpose is to make the
Chechen issue the subject for active discussion as the Georgia’s security depends very much on solution of the Chechen problem.
An exclusive interview with Movladi Udugov, Head of the Chechen Defence Committee Information Politics
GT: Has anyone taken responsibility for the explosion that took place in Grozny? Do you think that the reports that Basayev, Abu-Valid, or Tarik are linked to this operation are well-grounded?
MU:
I have not heard any specific statements except for those made by the President
Maskhadov and Akhmed Zakayev. I believe that it is only the Russian side
that claims that Basayev and Abu-Valid are responsible for the sabotage act.
I believe that it does not matter much who has masterminded this
action. The important thing is that something else became worthy of our attention,
namely the Shaheeds. They have become the reality of Chechnya.
The psychological state of the Chechen society has undergone a dramatic transformation.
The Chechen war has generated a completely new national kernel among the
Chechen people that has become the determining nucleus for all forces of
the opposition. I am sure that neither the political nor the military authority
is able to change this situation by now.
GT: Why do the Chechen Mujahideen wittingly choose self-liquidation?
MU:
It happens due to the war. The main reason is the war and the will of the
Chechen nation to keep on the resistance going. Now it cannot ever be broken.
GT: In his address to the Chechen Mujaheddins,
the President Maskhadov called on them to refrain from applying the practice
of suicide-bombing. Akhmed Zakayev also condemned such actions. The US and the Western Europe deplored this activity of Shaheeds. The Washington
called upon the Chechen authorities to condemn the activity of the Chechen
Kamikazes. What do you think stands behind all these? How acceptable such
a position is for the Chechen government?
MU:
I don't intend to comment on the President Maskhadov's address to the Chechens,
where he called on the Chechens to restrain from the suicide-bombing practice.
It is an address of the head of the government. However, I have my personal
opinion regarding this case. I think it is principally impossible to condemn
the people, who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and independence of
their own nation. As for the statements made by the Western countries, where
they call upon condemning and punishing the Chechen Mujahideen, I think it
is just a case of hypocrisy and crime against the Chechen nation. I completely
agree with the opinion that none of the countries has a moral right to demand
the Chechens to refrain from applying this or that method against the Russian
aggression. If the US
gives us the modern weapons, a nuclear bomb, tactical and strategic rockets,
the «Stingers» and so on, only then we will be able to talk about the possible
restriction of the means and methods used by the Chechen Resistance.
GT: How real is the possibility that a civilian war may be launched in Chechnya because of the action of the Shaheeds, as some politicians assert?
MU:
While your land is occupied by an enemy country and when the tiny part of
the population of your occupied country is threatened by the weapons of the
occupants, the war against your own people is impossible. It is an absolute
demagogy. The traitors of the country will leave as soon as the occupants
will withdraw. The civil war in Chechnya
is only possible if the fighting resistance forces become split. But the
probability of this is reducing day to day as the forces of the Chechen Resistance
are becoming more and more homogenous. It is an objective process that has
reached its climax point. This is the period, when even the most authoritative
leaders’ will becomes of little importance.
GT: What do you think is the aftermath of the Kamikaze operations?
MU: I think that it is not the last Kamikaze operation. A bloody and terrible war is fought in Chechnya,
and it got initiated by the Kremlin in order to eliminate the whole Chechens
ethnos. The nation offers as hard a resistance as it can. No one has the
right to forbid the nation, which fights to defend its own rights for existence,
to choose the methods and means for defending their own lives.
Personal File of Movladi Udugov
Movladi Udugov was born in Grozny, Chechnya on February 9, 1962. In 1988 he graduated from the Chechen-Ingush State University.
There he specialized in economics. After graduating from the university Udugov
engaged in the dissident activity. Later he became the editor-in-chief of
the «Orientir» edition that was banned by the Chechen-Ingush Communist Party.
Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Movladi started working as a press secretary of Dzhokhar Dudayev, the first President of Chechnya.
In December 1991 he was appointed the Minister of Information and Press.
From
December 1994 to August 1996 he was heading the information department of
the Chechen government and was actively cooperating with the Russian and
foreign media.
In August 1996, he was appointed the first Vice-Premier of State Politics and Information.
In January 1997, he ran for President, but received only 1% of the votes.
As the new government took office he was appointed the Vice-Premier and the Minister of State Politics and Information.
The Georgian Times
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