Address of the President of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (CRI) to the Chechen people regarding the preparations of the invaders’ regime to the so-called «referendum». The text of the address has been published on the territory of CRI by Chechen Press news agency.

Address of President of C.R.I. to the Chechen people

Dear fellow countrymen!

By initiating the «constitutional referendum» in the conditions of a war Russia’s leadership is trying to undermine the foundations of the statehood of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, to discredit its legitimately elected government and President of CRI, and to split the Chechen nation.

Guided by the principle of «divide and govern», Russia understands that the bloody consequences of illegal wars will not allow it to tempt Chechens to live integrated into Russia. Falsifying democratic procedures and holding the entire nation under gunpoint are the only things that Russia has left.

Disaster, sufferings, and hundreds of thousands of victims, sacrificed by Russia for the land of our ancestors, will remain in the memory of generations forever. We did not break, and no one will ever be able to break us. No one in history has ever managed or will ever manage to sow discord or hostility among Chechen people. We are strong and united in our desire for freedom and in our non-acceptance of the will of the aggressor.

Once being determined as an independent nation in 1991 and as a state in its essence and its form, the Chechen nation have been conducting the fight for the sacred right for self-determination, and for international guarantees of security. We must deprive anyone of any opportunity to repeat the genocide of 1944, 1994, and 1999. We will not allow anyone to trample the sacred memory of our best sons and daughters, who gave their lives for the independence of our Homeland. There is nothing more blasphemous than Russia’s attempt to make the Chechens acknowledge that the slaughter of the Chechen people is fair, regardless of the blood that has been shed, and regardless of innocent victims of Russian-Chechen wars.

Russia is vainly trying to make us acknowledge its domination over us. Our ancestors have not acknowledged that domination for centuries. Russia wants to make us the first nation in the world that will express its will during the referendum at gunpoint and under the threat of getting killed. Free will can never be granted to the people by murderers and torturers. This right can never be given by an aggressor, but it is gained by the people.

As the President of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, elected by the people, I am addressing to all who are concerned about our long-suffering land, to all who are concerned about the honor and dignity of the Nation, and to all citizens of our Republic with an appeal to unite in this difficult time and to state openly that there is no alternative to the Chechen independent state.

President of CRI, Aslan Maskhadov

Chechen Press
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