Akhmed Zakayev: "Such cruelty and treachery is not known to history…"

The Chechenpress news agency jointly with the Human Rights center "Memorial" published a documentary book "Russia's Crimes of the Century in Chechnya". Based on the evidences, photos and documentary materials of the eyewitnesses, the book deals with the brutal, barbarous bombardments of densely populated quarters of the Chechen capital and elimination of the refugees by the Russian aircraft which has turned into one of retaliatory structures in repressive system of the Russian Armed Forces.

On 21 October 1999, at the very beginning of war, the populated areas of Grozny came under strikes of tactical rockets "Land-Land". And when a flow of people surged to the "humanitarian corridor" "kindly" provided by the leadership of Russia, the desperate refuges were coolly shot from boards of the Russian planes and helicopters.

All that has been until now committed by the Russian military in Chechnya, falls under definition of state terrorism, for which the criminal Kremlin leadership should be punished most severely. The book, first of all, should serve as a document of accusation for the future trial of the Russian war criminals.

Below we present the foreword of the book written by the first Vice Premier of Government of the Chechen Republic Ichkeria, Special envoy of the President of ChRI Akhmed Zakayev.

The foreword by Akhmed Zakayev:

I can testify, that all those awful facts mentioned in the given book "Russia's Crimes of Century in Chechnya", actually took place, as at that time occupied the post of the first Vice Premier and was in the Chechen Republic with President Aslan Maskhadov.

Having analyzed the rocket and artillery strikes delivered on the pupated areas of the Chechen Republic in the autumn of 1999, I became convinced that it was a purposeful action of mass destruction of the civilians. The injured and eyewitnesses, as well as the journalists and human rights activists are of the same opinion. Besides destruction of the population of republic, these terrible actions were also aimed at driving out the remained Chechens in Russia, so that they could chase after them all over its boundless territory, and then assimilate those who had survived. Thus, the Chechen nation should have stopped the existence.

The leadership of Russia has prepared public opinion according to which after the actions carried out by the Russian military, people living in Chechnya should be announced the terrorists and gangsters, who should be annihilated, everyone to the last man. And as they are "terrorists", no international laws and conventions in the light of the new "antiterrorist" requirements can be applied with regard to them as to the participants of usual military actions, i.e. "combatants". Unfortunately, so it happened, - the international community, people all over the world whose minds have been "clouded" by the Kremlin's propaganda, believed practically each word of the young, vigorous, but at the same time extremely artful, severe and most false leader of Russia for the entire history of the country's existence.

After four bloody years the awful and terrible false has crept outside. It happened thanks to the honest journalists and human rights activists. Especially should be mentioned the employees of the "Memorial" Human Rights Center, who have done a titanic work in extremely dangerous and hard conditions. And bowing low to their courage, I would like to say: "Thank you!"

Further … In my opinion, the Russian military command began methodical and purposeful bombardments and shelling of the whole perimeter of the republic in order to accumulate a great number of refugees in the capital of Chechnya and in the populated areas in its environs with the sole purpose to subject the center of the more densely populated city to the strikes of tactical rockets. But it is not the most treacherous blow. The top of treachery and most boundless cynicism of the Russian military and political leadership was the strike delivered on the exhausted refugees when they thought that a step was left and they would be rescued. Poor people! They were sure that they would be given a chance to leave the limits of the ruined republic… The history knows no fact of more cynical, more treacherous and more severe annihilation of the civilians. And this horror takes place on the eve of the new, third millennium.

So hardhearted was the mankind on the eve of the new millennium…

It is impossible to read these line without shudder, the lines, through which oozes the blood of innocent people, - one cannot forget it, it should not be forgotten. Everyone, who is guilty of this awful, brutal crime named a crime of the century, should be severely punished. First of all, Putin, Eltsin, Patrushev, Sergei Ivanov, Rushailo, Gryzlov, Shamanov, Troshev, Kazantsev are those who are guilty of genocide in Chechnya. I declare it not because I am so bloodthirsty, no, by no means, I declare it because I do not wish this kind of crimes to be committed any more.

But, unexpectedly, so it happened that instead of the deserved punishment, the Russian criminals have claimed for me, the man, who together with the other fighters of the Chechen Resistance resisted to monstrous crimes of Russia's a military and political leadership

Ah, Almighty Allah! What is it? And how has such become possible? Is there any limit to the monstrous lie, treachery and hypocrisy of Russia's leaders? How could it happen that instead of true criminals, tomorrow, on 13 November, I have to appear before the Magistrate's court of Great Britain, hearing the case of my ex-tradition in Russia, in the country, which, day in and day out, devours my fellow countrymen? But I confidently declare, that the wise English justice will hand down a fair verdict. Moreover, I believe that not only the court and public of the United Kingdom, but also all people of good will take my side. I am also confident that international community at last should condemn the leadership of Russia, for whom the lawlessness has become a norm, and it has become especially noticeable recently in connection with the negative events taking place in Russia.

I hope, the day will come, - as the true patriot of Russia Alexander Litvinenko said, - and the Chechen and Russian peoples together will try Putin, Eltsin and the whole political and military leadership of Russia in the center of Grozny, once the most beautiful city in the Caucasus which has been turned into ruins by the Russian barbarians.

London, 12 November 2003

Chechenpress, 20 January 2004

http://www.chechenpress.info/english/news/2004/01/21/02.shtml