Yesterday marked the ten years since Russia’s invasion of Chechnya. The Sunday Times sums up the horror and futility of a decade of violence.
Officially about 10,000 Russian troops have been killed in Chechnya, though unofficial estimates are double that. Of the million Chechens living in the republic in 1994 perhaps a fifth have been killed. Tens of thousands more have been driven from their homeland.
For Russia, what started as an obscure regional dispute has turned into a national crisis, badly damaging the country’s reputation abroad, exposing the hollowness of its military, and giving President Putin a pretext for rolling back democracy. Visiting Grozny today, it seems all to have been for nothing. Carpet bombing has torn up almost every part of what used to be a major oil-refining city and home to half-a-million people. Twelve-floor tower blocks have been reduced to one floor of rubble. Warrens of small houses with vine-covered courtyards have become a jungle of debris and weed. The city centre is now a square kilometre of desert.
Also in today’s Sunday Times is an article on the aftermath of Beslan. David James Smith visited the town and instead of finding a town grieving in solidarity, found "a town tearing itself apart."
Chief among the targets of their need for someone to blame is Lydia Tsalieva, the headteacher of School No 1. Graffiti on the walls of the ruined school reads:
"Lydia, burn in hell"; "Lydia, how could you do this, we hope you choke on the money"; "Lydia is a bitch"; "Lydia is a whore"; "Lydia, death will find you"; "Lydia, let God punish your family"; "Lydia, wherever you go people will find you"; "Lydia, die".
None of her accusers seemed aware that Tsalieva’s family had been hostages too. Or if they knew, they never mentioned it. She had two grandchildren there, plus her sister and her sister’s grandchild. Her sister was also injured, suffering a broken arm and losing the sight of one eye.
- What next?
Stumble it
Digg it
Save to Delicious
Leave a comment
Subscribe
