Showing posts with label caucasus war. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caucasus war. Show all posts

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Can The War In The Caucasus Last A Hundred Years?


'The War In The Caucusus May Last A Hundred Years' -- Jerusalem Post/AP

Former Russian Interpol head says terror threat in country worse than in Israel; 4 top transportation officials fired over airport bombing.

"The level of terror threats in Russia is higher than that in Israel," former head of Russian Interpol Vladimir Ovchinsky stated during an interview with Novye Ivestia newspaper Wednesday.

"Our war is more intensive than the one between the Israelis and the Palestinians," he added, saying pessimistically that "The war in the Caucuses may last a hundred years."

Read more
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My Comment: War and conflict between Russia and many of the ethnic groups in the Caucasus has been ongoing since the early 1800s. Another hundred years .... that is very feasible.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Fighting Reported From Russia's Caucasus Region


Senior Militant Commander Among 8 Killed In Dagestan -- RIA Novosti

A senior militant commander was among eight gunmen killed in a special operation on Sunday in Makhachkala, Russia's Dagestan republic, the national anti-terrorism committee said.

One of the gunned militants has been identified as Amir Magomed Sheikhov. "He was appointed to post by the armed gang three months ago," the spokesman said.

Read more ....

More News On Fighting In The Caucasus

8 Militants Killed In Russia's North Caucasus -- NPR/AP (Audio)
Gunmen blocked in Russia's Dagestan special operation -- RIA Novosti
Police kill militant chief in south Russia -- UPI
2 police killed, 5 wounded in Russia's Caucasus -- AP
Policeman shot dead in Russia's Dagestan -- RIA Novosti
6 police hurt in 2 North Caucasus blasts -- UPI
Putin Makes Symbolic Visit in Ethnic Strife -- New York Times
Thanks to Putin, North Caucasus has Become ‘Russia’s Palestine,’ Nemtsov Says -- Georgia Daily

Friday, September 10, 2010

The Day After A Suicide Blast In North Ossetia, More Violence Continues



Market Bomb Death Toll Rises In North Ossetia -- Voice of America

The death toll from a suicide bomb blast in Russia's restive North Caucasus rose to 17 Friday, as the stricken province observed a day of mourning for the victims.

Russian police have detained three men suspected of involvement in Thursday's bomb attack in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia.

More than 100 people remain hospitalized. Officials say 11 of the most seriously injured have been airlifted to Moscow for treatment.

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More News On The Violence In The Caucasus

Day of mourning for Russian car bomb victims -- AP
Toll rises as region mourns after Russia suicide blast -- Reuters
North Ossetia Mourns Bombing Victims As Death Toll Rises -- Radio Free Europe
Death toll in Vladikavkaz market blast reaches 17 -- RIA Novosti
Vladikavkaz blast victims brought to Moscow -- RIA Novosti
Suicide bomb kills 17 in Russian market -- The Telegraph
Suicide car bombing in southern Russia kills 17 -- AP
Islamist militants blamed after suicide bomb kills 16 in Russian Orthodox city -- The Guardian

Russians mourn bombing victims; 10 others killed. -- AP
Four militants killed in Russia's North Caucasus -- RIA Novosti
Kremlin vows to destroy bandits in N.Caucasus -- Reuters
Russian president urges to destroy insurgents -- Xinhuanet

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Russia's War Against Radical Islamists Continues

At least 4 militants killed, 2 policemen wounded in Ingushetia shootout. © RIA Novosti. Ruslan Vakhaev

Conflict Stirs In Dagestan -- UPI

MAKHACHKALA, Russia, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- The driver of a deputy official in the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan had his throat cut after his boss went missing, a security source said.

The driver for a border chief in Dagestan was found dead last weekend. His boss was reported missing and authorities are on the lookout for his vehicle and government-issued firearms, sources told Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti.

Read more ....

More News On the Violence In The Caucasus

Russian security forces kill 5 militants-police -- Reuters
Five suspected rebels killed in Dagestan: officials -- AFP
Russia: 5 Militants Killed in North Caucasus -- Voice of America
5 Islamist Militants Killed In Russia's Dagestan Region -- RTT News
At least 6 die in violence in Russia`s Muslim south -- Antara News
At least 6 die in violence in Russia's Muslim south -- Reuters
2 Russian border guards, 1 civilian dead in south -- AP
Deputy Mayor Wounded, Two Killed In Daghestan -- Radio Free Europe
Dagestan announces state of emergency in 26 districts -- ITAR-TASS
Militant Leader Killed in Russia's Ingushetia -- CRIEnglish
At least 4 militants killed, 2 policemen wounded in Ingushetia shootout (Update 1) -- RIA Novosti
Police: Chechen militant detonates explosives as police try to arrest him, kills self, officer -- Canadian Press
Russians kill top Caucasus Emirate leader -- Long War Journal
Power Struggle Among Russia's Militants -- Right Side News

Monday, July 26, 2010

War And Civil Unrest Is Returning To The caucasus


Kremlin Says To Fire Security Aides If Caucasus Attacks Recur -- Reuters

MOSCOW/ATAZHUKINO Russia (Reuters) - President Dmitry Medvedev threatened on Thursday to sack top security officials if they fail to prevent more attacks on strategic assets in Russia's North Caucasus after suspected Islamist rebels bombed a hydropower plant there.

Six masked men stormed the power plant in Kabardino-Balkaria on Wednesday, shot dead two guards and set off remote-controlled bombs beside the main generator units, investigators for the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

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More News On The Unrest In The Caucasus

Russia: 5 Killed in Attacks in Muslim Separatist Region -- New York Times
Two militants killed in Russia's volatile North Caucasus -- RIA Novosti
Police officer murdered in Russia's Dagestan -- RIA Novosti
Judge shot dead in Dagestan -- AFP
Bishop killed in Russia's Dagestan -- Sacramento Bee
Doku Umarov names his successor -- Long War Journal

Tightened security around N Caucasus hydropower dams
-- Voice of Russia
$49 million to fix North Caucasus plant -- UPI
Power Plant Attacked in Caucasus -- New York Times
Two killed in 'terror attack' on Russian power plant -- AFP
Two paramilitaries who attacked power plant killed in N Caucasus -- Itar Tass

Rights Activists In North Caucasus Appeal To Medvedev For Protection -- Radio Free Europe
Putin Sets New Strategy to Fight Caucasus Insurgency -- Voice of America
How to prevent another war in the Southern Caucasus -- Donald D. Asmus, Washington Post

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Growth Of Radical Islamic Groups In Russia



Russia Islamist Network Takes Shape As Caucasus Hit By Another Terrorist Attack -- Christian Science Monitor

An attack in Ingushetia today, the fifth to shake Russia in a week, underscores the threat posed by an Islamist insurgent network that has emerged from the ashes of Chechnya's nationalist rebellion.

Five terrorist attacks that killed almost 60 people in a single week have left Russians deeply shaken. The latest attack took place today in the restive Republic of Ingushetia.

Read more ....

More News On Russia's Islamic Insurgency

String of bombings hits Russia's Caucasus: first Dagestan, now Ingushetia attack -- Christian Science Monitor
Suicide bomber kills two policemen in the latest terror attack in Russia -- Daily Mail
Bombers Kill Policemen in Russia -- New York Times
Suicide bomber kills 2 police in Russia's Caucasus -- AP
Russia: Bomber kills 2, Islamic insurgency spreads -- AP
FACTBOX - Recent suicide bomb attacks across Russia -- Reuters
Russia says teacher was 2nd subway suicide bomber -- AP
'Dagestan teacher is Moscow bomber' -- Al Jazeera
After Attacks in Russia, Fears of Xenophobia -- New York Times
How Russia nourishes radical Islam -- Washington Post opinion

Saturday, April 3, 2010

A Look At A Teenage Suicide Bomber

The Kommersant newspaper says this photo, provided by the Russian news agency NewsTeam, shows Dzhanet Abdurakhmanova and husband Umalat Magomedov, who was killed by Russian troops last year. (NewsTeam)

In The Arms Of Her Militant Husband, The Baby-Faced 'Black Widow' Who 'Blew Herself Up On The Moscow Metro' -- The Daily Mail

This is the baby-faced 'Black Widow' suspected of blowing up herself and scores of commuters on the Moscow underground this week.

Looking like an Islamic extremist version of Bonnie and Clyde, Dzhennet Abdurakhmanova, 17, and her husband, a notorious militant leader, pose with guns.

Abdurakhmanova became a widow last year when Umalat Magomedov, an Islamist rebel in the southern republic of Dagestan, was shot by Russian agents.

Read more ....

More News On Chechnya's "Black Widows"

Teen Widow Suspected in Moscow Blast -- Wall Street Journal
Changing face of terror in Russia -- Financial Times
A girl named paradise: The baby face of Moscow's attack -- Sydney Morning Herald
Suicide bomber 'widow of terrorist leader' -- The Independent
One of Moscow subway bombers was 17-year-old widow -- AP
Moscow bomber identified as teenage widow from Dagestan -- L.A. Times
Black widow bomber was 17-year-old 'wife' of Islamist leader -- The Telegraph
Russia Says Suicide Bomber Was Militant’s Widow -- New York Times
Russia says Moscow bomber was teenage "Black Widow" -- Reuters

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Russia Promises Stiff Response Against Muslim Insurgents In The Caucasus



Russian President Makes Surprise Visit To North Caucasus -- Voice Of America

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev made a surprise visit Thursday to the restive North Caucasus, where he urged local authorities to enact "tough, severe" new measures to fight terrorism.

Mr. Medvedev's comments were televised from the southern republic of Dagestan, where two suicide bombers killed at least 12 people Wednesday. In Moscow on Monday, two suicide bomb attacks killed 39 commuters on the city's subway.

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More News On Russia's War In the Caucasus

Russia's Medvedev promises 'crueler' measures -- AP
Russia's Medvedev visits North Caucasus after bombings -- Reuters
Medvedev in Caucasus as Russia buries bomb victims -- Yahoo News/AFP
Russian Leader Calls for Tougher Actions Against Militants -- New York Times
Russia's Medvedev promises 'crueler' measures -- Yahoo News/AP
Medvedev seeks tougher response to terror -- UPI

Chechen Rebel Leader Speaks via YouTube
-- New York Times
Chechen warlord Doku Umarov claims Moscow metro bombings -- Christian Science Monitor

Another blast in Dagestan kills two -- Press TV
Russia Seeks to Eliminate North Caucasus Terrorists -- Voice of America
Suspects held in Russian bombings, organizers identified - FSB -- RIA Novosti
Masterminds behind Moscow, Dagestani explosions known: FSB -- Xinhuanet
The FSB Dropped the Ball -- Moscow Times

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

After The Moscow Subway Bombings, Russia's War In The Caucasus Heats Up

The site of two explosions in the southern Russian town of Kizlyar on Wednesday. Zaur Halikov/Reuters

Bomb Attacks In Southern Russia Aim At Police -- New York Times

MOSCOW — Two bomb attacks aimed at the police killed at least 12 people in the volatile North Caucasus region of Russia on Wednesday, according to the Russian prosecutor’s office, further heightening security concerns two days after deadly suicide bombings struck the Moscow subway.

Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin said he did not rule out that Wednesday’s attacks in Dagestan, near the border with Chechnya, could have been organized by “the same group” behind the Moscow subway bombings. Dmitri A. Medvedev, Russia’s president, called the two sets of attacks “links of the same chain.”

Read more ....



More News On Russia's War In The Caucasus

13 killed in double suicide attack in southern Russia -- Long War Journal
Bombs kill 12 in Russia's Dagestan region -- CNN
At least 12 killed in suicide blasts in Russia -- Washington Post
Suicide Bombs Strike Southern Russia -- New York Times/AP
Russia Rocked By Another Twin Suicide Bombing -- ABC News
Fatal blasts rock North Caucasus town -- UPI
New twin suicide blasts rock southern Russia -- China View
Dagestan Suicide Bombings (VIDEO): Second Bombing Caught On Camera -- Huffington Post
Echoing Moscow attack, Dagestan bombings underscore Russia's terrorism threat -- Christian Science Monitor
Single terrorist group may be behind Moscow, Dagestan bombings - Putin -- RIA Novosti
Moscow, Kizlyar bombings linked - Dagestan's president -- RIA Novosti
First bomb in Dagestan blasts had power of 200 kg TNT - investigators -- RIA Novosti
Radical Dagestan is legacy of Kremlin's siege of Chechnya -- The Guardian

The North Caucasus region is the part of Russia that slopes up towards the main ridge of the Caucasus mountains, often considered the border between Europe and Asia. It is home to dozens of nationalities and languages, many of which have troubled relationships with their neighbours or with central governments in Moscow or Tbilisi.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Islamic Insurgency Grows In Russia's Caucasus Region


With Breakdown of Order in Russia’s Dagestan Region, Fear Stalks Police -- New York Times

MAKHACHKALA, Russia — At a certain point last summer, when snipers on rooftops began picking off police officers, Col. Mukhtar Mukhtarov’s wife blocked the door with her body and refused to let him leave home in his uniform.

For 25 years, it had been one of the great joys of Colonel Mukhtarov’s life to walk the streets in his red-striped police cap. But by last summer all that had been turned so thoroughly on its head that he quietly went back to his bedroom to change into civilian clothes.

Read more ....

More News On The Caucasus Region

'Emir of Grozny' terrorist leader killed in Russia's Dagestan -- RIA Novosti
“Emir of Grozny” killed in Makhachkala -- Voice of Russia
Suspected militant killed in security raid in Russia's volatile southern province -- Winnipeg Free Press/Canadian Press
Explosive device neutralized in Dagestan -- Voice of America
Terrorists derail empty freight train in North Caucasus -- RT
Counter-terrorism operation regime imposed in Dagestan's capital -- RIA Novosti
Russia kills four militants in Dagestan: official -- AFP
Global jihad creeping into Russia's insurgency -- Reuters

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Russia's Bin Laden Killed In The Caucasus -- News Updates March 7/8, 2010

Russian 'Bin Laden' Killed By Moscow's Special Forces -- The Telegraph

Russia exulted in the death of a terrorist dubbed "the Russian Bin Laden," yesterday claiming it has proof he was behind a deadly train bombing last November that left 28 people dead.

The FSB intelligence service said a special forces operation had resulted in the death of Sheikh Said Buryatsky, an Islamist convert whose real name was Alexander Tikhomirov.

FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov told President Dmitry Medvedev said that the operation in southern Russia last week had resulted in the death of eight militants and the capture of ten.

Read more ....

More News On The Caucasus

Russia says alleged passenger train bomber killed -- L.A. Times
Russia Confirms Killing of Militant Leader in Raid -- New York Times
Russian forces kill eight, find train attack clues -- AFP
Ingushetia rebel killed in raid by Russian troops -- BBC
Gang leader killed in N.Caucasus involved in 2009 train blast - FSB -- RIA Novosti
FSB chief certain of killed warlord's involvement in Nevsky Express blast -- RIA Novosti

Russia’s President Visits North Caucasus Offering No Real Solution to its Main Problem -- Georgian Daily
Five Years After Maskhadov's Death, Situation In North Caucasus Remains Complex -- Radio Free Europe
Vital Route in Caucasus Is Reopened, Just Barely -- New York Times
Georgia: Russia May Have 5,000 Troops In Abkhazia -- Eurasia Net

6 Insurgents Killed in Ingush Battle -- Moscow Times
Police Kill 20 in North Caucasus Skirmishes -- Moscow Times
14 militants killed in clash in Russia's Caucasus -- AP
Grenades launched at south Russia freight train -- RIA Novsoti
Russia’s Terror-Fighting Trains Back on the Rails -- The Danger Room
Russian investigators to thoroughly probe abductions in Chechnya -- RIA Novosti
Kremlin says police reform needed in violent south -- Reuters

Russia proposes fingerprinting for volatile N.Caucasus -- Reuters
Russian Official Suggests Fingerprinting Entire North Caucasus -- Radio Free Europe
Investigation Committee suggests total fingerprint/DNA registration in Russia -- ITAR-TASS

Azerbaijan warns of "great war" in South Caucasus -- Reuters
Azerbaijan warns of 'great war' -- Financial Times
Azerbaijan threatens Armenia the great war -- Ukrainian Globalist

Friday, February 12, 2010

Guerrilla War In The Caucasus Is Spreading


20 Insurgents Killed As Jihadist Attacks Rise In Russia's Caucasus -- Christian Science Monitor

An Islamist insurgency is now spreading beyond Chechyna to the entire patchwork of republics known as the north Caucasus.

One of the biggest thorns in Russia's side since the Soviet Union's collapse has been Chechnya, one of seven republics along its southeastern flank known collectively as the north Caucasus.

After two wars, Moscow has largely tamed Chechnya's separatists with the help of strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, though not without cost. An estimated quarter million people have been killed, and the tiny republic has turned into a totalitarian statelet. Dissenters face kidnapping, torture, and extrajudicial execution, says Alexander Cherkassov of Memorial, Russia's largest independent human rights group.

"Now we are seeing the same methods being applied in Ingushetia and Dagestan," he says.

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More News On The Caucasus

Russia says 20 killed in battle near Chechnya -- Reuters
Ingushetia operation against militants 'kills 20' -- BBC
Russia: Caucasus fighters killed -- Al Jazeera
Some 20 militants killed in south Russia -- RIA Novosti
Russia: 5 Soldiers Are Killed in Chechnya -- New York Times
Dagestan: Russia's Most Overlooked Hot Spot -- Foreign Policy
No threat of separatism in North Caucasus — Kadyrov -- RIA Novosti
Medvedev’s (and Putin’s) man in the Caucasus -- Moscow News
Putin Seeks More Jobs to Stabilize North Caucasus -- Moscow News

Friday, January 8, 2010

Civil War In The Caucasus Continues

The North Caucasus In 2009: Security Situation Worsened For Moscow -- Jamestown Foundation

A massive flurry of official statements was released to the Russian mass media by politicians, analysts, and experts on Russia summing up the year 2009 in the North Caucasus. After an assessment of these statements, it is increasingly obvious that the situation in the region in 2009 became worse compared to the previous year. Aleksandr Shashin, the deputy chief of Russian Interior Ministry’s headquarters in the Southern Federal District, says that the terrorist crime rate in 2009 increased by 60 percent in southern Russia in comparison to 2008 (www.rosbalt.ru, December 25).

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More News on The Conflict In the Caucasus

Government brutality gives rise to insurgency in North Caucasus -- Vancouver Sun
Russia's Medvedev plans "systematically" attacks on Caucasus fighters -- World Bulletin
Russian interior minister vows clampdown on Dagestan militants -- RIA Novosti
Russian Police Kill 2 Rebels After Suicide Blast -- New York Times/AP
Suicide bomber kills 5 police in Dagestan -- CNN
Dagestan suicide bomb kills six police officers -- BBC
Suicide bombing in Russia's Dagestan kills 5 police officers -- L.A. Times
Russian interior minister vows to strike Dagestan militants -- China View

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Russia's Brutal Guerrilla War


From Foreign Policy Blog:

How the crisis in the North Caucasus could go global.

The daily and deadly news from Russia's restive North Caucasus region -- police buildings blown up in Ingushetia, human rights activists murdered in Chechnya, firefights in Dagestan -- makes it clear that the insurgency there is far from finished, despite Moscow's frequent claims of victory. The conflict has splintered and metastasized, with atrocities carried out by both sides. Guerrillas are increasingly turning to suicide attacks, and they do not rule out more mass hostage takings, like the 2004 Beslan school seizure. Human rights activists and rivals of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov are murdered in Moscow, the Chechen capital, and abroad with impunity.

Read more ....

My Comment: When the Soviet Union was first being formed after the 1917 revolution, many of the Muslim Republics in the Caucasus and Central Asia refused to join in, starting a low level insurgency campaign that lasted for almost 10 years.

It was brought to a close when individuals like Stalin and those like him .... using the security and intelligence forces .... began a massive campaign to systematically kill or deport suspected civilian populations. The suffering and dislocation of peoples is still felt in these Republics today .... which in turn brings about the anger and resentment that is now directed at Moscow.

Will history repeat itself? .... I give it a small but possible chance that Russia will repeat the same tactics and strategy that was used from 1917 - 1929. However .... if Islamic radicals become a threat to the very existence of the Russian Federation .... I will up these odds closer to 100%

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Russia's Low Intensity War In The Caucasus -- News Updates July 16, 2009

A Mountain Of Troubles -- The Economist

The north Caucasus continues to suffer kidnappings, torture and killings on a horrifying scale

ON JULY 7th, as Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev discussed world security in the Kremlin, people charged with security in Chechnya kidnapped a local man and his son. Twelve hours later the man was dragged from a car in his underwear and executed before a few villagers. And this was but one of many punitive actions taken by Chechen authorities against relatives of alleged rebels.

It was brought to light by Natalia Estemirova, a human-rights activist who has chronicled kidnappings, torture and killings for a decade on behalf of Memorial, Russia’s oldest human-rights group. Ms Estemirova received prizes in Europe, but no thanks from her government. On July 15th, as she left home in Chechnya, she herself was kidnapped. A few hours later she was found dead in neighbouring Ingushetia. Her hands were tied and she had two bullets in her head and chest.

Read more ....

Chechnya: 'Open Season' For Killing Rights Activists? -- Christian Science Monitor

Natalia Estemirova, who has long documented abuses by government-backed militias, is the fourth prominent critic of Kremlin policies to be killed in three years.

Rights groups on Thursday condemned the killing in Chechnya of prominent human rights activist Natalia Estemirova, who has long documented abuses by government-backed militias there.

The killing has drawn attention to a worrying trend in which critics of Kremlin-installed Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov have been harassed or murdered. Human rights groups have blamed Mr. Kadyrov and his followers for abusing innocent civilians in their counterinsurgency campaign against Islamic militants. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed "outrage" and called for an inquiry, reports the BBC.

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More News On Russia And Its Low Intensity War In The Caucasus

15 militants killed in special operation in North Caucasus -- RIA Novosti
Police kill three militants in S.Russia -- RIA Novosti
Police officer killed, investigator injured in Russia's Caucasus -- RIA Novosti
Over 40 militants killed or detained on Chechen-Ingush border -- RIA Novosti
Four officers killed, six wounded in Chechnya clash -- RIA Novosti
Chechnya: 'Open Season' For Killing Rights Activists? -- Christian Science Monitor
Activist blames Putin, Chechen leader for slaying -- AP
Medvedev rejects Kadyrov role in Chechen rights activist murder -- RIA Novosti
Mourners weep for slain Russian rights activist -- AP
Russia Rights Group Blames ‘State Terror’ for Killing -- Bloomberg
Farewell ceremony held for slain Chechen human rights activist -- RIA Novosti
Killings of Russia's Human-Rights Activists Continue -- Time Magazine
Lawyers, activists and reporters killed in Russia -- AP