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English Language Page Tanya Lokshina, Moscow Helsinki Group On October 4, on the eve of the presidential elections in Chechnya I had a chance to see Chechen TV news programme. This interest of mine could be linked to the elections only formally. The central TV channels happened to be the main propaganda and agitation tools. And their preferences were obvious… Still, the Chechen news broadcast on the eve of the elections has struck me so that I could not help but inquire of my more experienced friends whether local news programs have always been like that. From what I got from their answers, in the past TV life in Chechnya surely used to be more entertaining if not better as such. * * * Prior to the 1997 January elections the local TV was a real battlefield. Candidates were exposing and accusing one another on the three channels at a time. Movladi Udugov at first promised “Islamic Order”… which did not prevent him from drinking and eating after his TV appearances despite the Islamic fast —Uraza. Pre-election propaganda continued on the last day before the election. The winner was Maskhadov — though he kept a rather low profile as compared to others. But the war to win TV was far from over — on the contrary. At times it was accompanied by shooting. For instance, in June of 1998 Lechi Khultygov, head of Maskhadov’s security department was killed on the staircase of one of the TV stations. Just before the assassination he announced the disclosure of a Wahhabi plot. Those wahhabists happened to be not real Muslims but agents of the world Zionism who had discredited the proud Ichkeria in the eye of the world community, operating upon the order of Zionists. But the truth was that Khultygov was murdered not by Wahhabists or Zionists but by the people of Salman Raduev who controlled the TV channel. Sometimes Raduev speaking on TV also made shocking sensational denunciations. In September of 1999 when the war started, the TV tower became one of the key targets for bombing and pretty soon everything was over. Chechnya could watch only central channels. Having no choice, kids had to watch cartoons and adults — news. But all of this had nothing to do with culture and information… Later, local TV resumed operation, and on the eve of the elections even some Moscow experts came down to revive the institution. It appeared that Chechnya had all the prerequisites for this. During all those years in the shadow of official ravings of Moscow and Grozhy TV, scores of local rural TV stations were operating. Many villages had their own cable networks which made their life a bit more exiting. Amateurish Ostankino relayed interesting channels (according to a local media-baron) rather than the main federal-level ORT or RTR. They telecast their local news, non-political of course, like, “ Vakhi X. lost his cow, one horn is crooked, the other is missing.” That’s the news the whole village was discussing. But senior citizens state that it is no news — apparently the same cow was looked for by guerilla scouts in the German rear as far back as 1942… Local cultural programs sometimes left a lot to be desired: it was not easy for local DJs to veer away from the beaten track of the “concert upon your requests.” But even this genre “added excitement to the feast equal to a drum beating.” After all the rural community remains nearly as important “a cell of society” to a Chechen as a family. The whole village hears a song performed upon the request of a grateful Romeo-Akhmet for Juliet-Madina. And then relatives of Juliet are chasing Romeo all over the village in order to specifically interrogate him as to what for he was so grateful ordering his serenade. But the village wits are smiling, “Plague on both of your homes.” But sometimes this idyll is interrupted by the war — insurgents occupy the village. One detachment controls the TV station and substitutes the cassette with Maskhadov’s speech for “Titanic” or “Star Wars.” Another detachment patrols the village streets insistently recommending inhabitants to go home and listen to their dear President. The third is controlling the transformer booth in case someone attempts to switch off the light. Sometimes more serious things occurred. This happened in the village of Avtury, for example, — the same village where the people of the late Adam Deniev kept journalist Andrei Babitsky who had been allegedly handed over to the paramilitaries. Adam Deniev was a person quite loyal to the Russian authorities in general and especially loyal to special services. Adam was generally full of energy and within a short laps of time managed to ruin relations with many country fellows — with separatists, since he worked for federal special services, with other collaborationists because he was striving to be their boss. But in his native village of Avtury, Deniev felt safe, but the feeling was a mistake. One day he decided either to address his country fellows or to record a presentation for a broader audience — but got killed by an explosion which demolished not only him but also the TV station. Who did it — his opponents or competitors — remains an enigma. As we can see there is only one step from information war to a real one in Chechnya today… * * * On the eve of the presidential elections in Chechnya I watched news on the Chechen State TV, Radio Company. It was the 7.30 p.m. news block — real prime time, and I was riveted to the screen hoping to see some urgent news related to tomorrow’s elections. But instead of that I bumped into such Soviet-type exemplary news as I took the trouble of making notes of those super-patriotic reports of various achievements in peaceful life restoration. Federal channels news haven’t yet reached this level but it feels that we don’t have to wait long…It is always gratifying to realize what you might face “the next day.” So, piece of news #1. In the Nozhai-Yurt district a bridge has been restored across the Yamansu river. The road to Yalkhoi-Mohk, Benoi and Vedeno villages passes through this bridge. This is a tremendous achievement in Chechnya rebuilding, a great contribution in the republic development. The picture shows a brand new bridge and a crowd of happy people nearby. Piece of news #2. Another cafe for the youth is open in Grozhy — cafe “Stolichny.” The cafe appointment meets European standards. This was confirmed by the Mayor of the city, Supyan Mokhchaev who attended the official opening of the cafe. The Mayor appreciated both the ample menu and the amicable atmosphere. The only drawback was the absence of his favorite cake. But “Stolichny” owners promised that by the time of his next visit they would bake a variety of this type of cakes. Why not cater to a dear guest? The picture was showing an entrance to the cafe, the red ribbon being cut with shining scissors, the hall, freshly washed floor, brand new tables and a blow-up of the Mayor's smiling face, merry young people, a tray full of pastry… Isn’t that a sight for a sore eye! Piece of news #3. Rosselhoz-Bank opened its branch in Grozny. Naturally it was the Mayor of the city who inaugurated it. Besides that, the city administration convened a special meeting to discuss the issue of equipping polling stations. It should be noted that in the whole of the news bloc this was the only mention (indirect) of tomorrow’s elections… Piece of news #4. A gas pipeline has been laid in the villages of Alkhazurovo and Varandy. Soon they will have a water pipeline. The picture shows village inhabitants dancing with joy and thanking the generous authorities. What comes to mind is a dish-washing liquid commercial endlessly played on Russian TV: the Villariba village is celebrating while in Villabaggio nobody is washing the dishes. Because there is no water yet. But, God willing, the water will come relatively soon… But the reality is much more intricate and the authorities have nothing to do with this. As far back as 2000, Alkhazurovo inhabitants pooled some money to buy pipes. I suspect the pipes were brought from the destroyed Grozny refineries. They hires a team of welders. The welders started to lay the pipeline from Chiri-Yurt to a cement factory, now destroyed, and to the village. Initially, the gas pipeline had reached the village about 30 years ago. So, the welders were working for a long time. After a year or so when the pipeline was passing by the 205th (people call it “ two hundred and drunk”) motorized rifle brigade, this brigade arrested the welders team to “filter” them. No doubt they are spies: there is a war all around, and they pretend they are working... Whether those welders appeared to be convincing during interrogations or villagers pooled money again — but in any case the work soon resumed. The main concern was that it was not clear that any gas will be pumped into the pipeline Chiri-Yurt lacked a compressor to pump the gas. Apparently now the villagers, made another pool and two years later the gas reached Alkhazurovo. It was a pity that the news report overlooked all that… [1] Piece of news #5. Inhabitants of the Oktyabrsky district of the city of Grozny rebuilt their mosque. Construction materials were supplied free of charge by the Chechengasprom company. The picture was showing some unrecognizable construction site. Piece of news #6. A remarkable event occurred in the life of 122-year-old Pasikhat Dzholaeva. She received a new Russian passport instead of her old Soviet one at the police station of the Lenin district of the city of Grozny. The report was featuring a very old babushka wearing a white kerchief signing some paper with her shaky hand, and happy faces of passport department employees. There was a blow-up frame showing a relative of hers, probably a granddaughter. She was not a young woman herself, rather sturdy, who was saying smiling shyly that the grandma was still doing well — she would go out for walks, talk to people, but the age does have a certain impact— she became a bit short-tempered. Piece of news #7. Five senior citizens in the Staropromyslovsky district of Grozny were awarded for their merits — assistance in organizing and conducting the March referendum on the Constitution of the Chechen Republic. The picture was showing energetic handshakes of officials with proud-looking senior citizens. The hint was clear — we expect help from you at the elections and in return you will get what you deserve from the master’s table. There is nothing to add to this — indeed it’s fine work… Piece of news #8. The Republic hosted the forum “Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities to the Disabled!” At the closing ceremony, the dancing company “Daimokh” was performing. The picture showed dancers clad in traditional costumes. The overcrowded theater was applauding. Piece of news #9. “Vainakh” magazine published a series of essays — forty biographies of Chechen writers of the XIX and early XX centuries. It is a very important event in the cultural life of Chechnya. Piece of news # 9 happened to be the final one. It was followed by sports news. The law was abided by, the news bloc did not mention the presidential elections directly, but that did not affect the turnout. According to official information, 87% of the republic's population fulfilled their civil duty. Apparently, the “polling stations preparation” was carried on at the top level. 1 In January 2004, one of my Moscow colleagues who traveled to Chechnya on the job took the pain to find out whether the gas was actually supplied to Alkhazurovo. The answer is negative. Back |
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