THE AMBASSADOR IN EXILE
16 November 2001,Vilnius
We grew up free, together with the mountain eagles,
Difficulties and obstacles we overcame with dignity.
Granite rocks will sooner melt like lead,
Than we shall lose our nobility in life and struggle,
The Earth will sooner be breached in the burning Sun,
Than we will be entombed in soil, our honour lost.
Never we’ll appear submissive before anybody,
Death of Freedom – we can choose only one way.
Extract from the national anthem of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
DEATH or FREEDOM
On June 12-14, 2000, the International Congress on the Evaluation of
the Crimes of Communism, the first congress of this kind ever held in the
world history, was organized in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.
Representatives from 24 countries attended it and established the
International Vilnius Public Tribunal entitled by many people as “Nuremberg
– 2”. The Congress assigned the Tribunal to make legal, political and social
evaluation of the Communist ideology and the crimes committed by the
Communist regimes. The Tribunal was held in two sessions that took place on
June 12-14 and September 4-8, 2000. The indictments of the representatives
from 15 countries were presented. The Tribunal pronounced the Judgment on
September 27, 2000.
STAND UP. THE COURT ENTERS
The Chairman of the International Vilnius Public Tribunal Vytautas
Zabiela calls the prosecutors, victims and the witnesses to speak. They
witness the Communist policy, perpetrated crimes and damage; condemn the
Communist ideology and its actions against humanity and demand to denounce
and punish the criminals, so that this would never and nowhere repeat itself
again.
September the 4th. Dead silence in the Conference Hall of the
Parliament of Lithuania. There is a young woman, her appearance reminding a
literature and movie heroine from southeastern countries, standing in the
tribune. She is Aminat Saijeva, the Ambassador of the Chechen Republic of
Ichkeria to Lithuania.
Honorable Judges of the Tribunal, participants and the attendance,
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen - applyed A. Saijeva
In October 1917 the humanity witnessed an unprecedented historical
event – the communist party came to dominate in the great empire of Russia.
The Communist crimes against the nation of Chechnya are of certain
peculiarity in regard with the continuous fight of Chechnya people for the
freedom and independence which was lost in 1895 after the hundred year war,
only 116 thousand out of 3 million Chechnya people having survived. The
nation of Chechnya, however, never accepted the colonization and rose
revolts every 10 years.
The February events of the year 1917 in Russia became a continuation of
the liberation struggle of the Chechnya nation from colonialism. The same
year on the initiative of Chechnya an independent United Gorskaya Republic
of seven countries in the northern Caucasus was established. The Republic
comprised seven territories: Abkhazia, Adygea, Dagestan, Kabardy,
Karachai-Balkaria, Ossetia and Chechen-Ingushetia.
In 1918 Russia used treachery and force to subdue the Gorskaya Republic
and made Chechnya a part of the Soviet Communist-totalitarian empire. In
1922 in Chechnya a nationwide revolt flared up – the Chechens rallied their
struggle for independence. With that the Communist Moscow launched an
atrocious terror against the nation of Chechnya. In 1928-1932 national
rebellions again rise in Chechnya. About 35 % of Chechnya nation was
decimated during the period 1920-1940. The Communists called it the fight
with the national enemy, kulak-counterrevolutionary elements and reactionary
clergy, which included all elderly and respectful Chechens.
On February 23-25, 1944 more than 250 thousand Chechnya and Ingushetia
people were exiled to Kazakhstan, Siberia and Central Asia. This
premeditated operation was performed by 200 thousand of NKVD (People’s
Commissariat for Internal Affairs; Rus. Narodny komissariat vnutrennikh del)
and Red Army soldiers and officers (i.e. one torturer equates two and a half
Chechens). During the deportation the Chechens were being fusilladed,
exlpoded, bayoneted, drowned, burnt and poisoned. About 12 thousand people
were killed during one day of deportation. During 13 years of exile (until
the year 1957) about 70 % of Chechnya and Ingushetia people were
exterminated. These atrocities were perpetrated not by some Fascists, but by
the fellow citizens – Communists, Checists, Red Army soldiers formally in
their own country and against their own nation. Felonious Communist regime
had planned everlasting exile of Chechnya and Ingushetia nations. Those who
remained alive suffered most severe moral and physical outrage.
According to socio-economic indices of living standards, by the year
1990 Chechnya-Ingushetia occupied the last, seventy-third place among all
the former subjects of the USSR. And one should also take into account that
every year 15-25 million tons of highest-quality oil were pumped from the
entrails of the Chechen land, and a giant industry-and-energy complex
operated in the country. However, the products were sent to Russia and other
countries.
The process of democratization, which began at the end of the eighties
in the former USSR, gave the Chechens hope for a better future. During that
period spiritual rise of the Chechen nation and strive towards the
restoration of independence began.
On 1 November 1991 the Chechnya nation and the new democratic
government formally announced the restoration of the sovereign Chechen
State. Everything was performed peacefully in regard to international law
requirements.
During the first stages Russia consented to the independence of
Chechnya. The Russian troops were pulled out of the country in June 1992.
However, the existing Russian syndrome of great-power chauvinism and
totalitarianism at first lead to an attempt to destroy Chechnya with
political, economic, financial isolation and blockade, and when those
measures failed, then in December 1994 Russia waged a wild-scale war against
the Chechen Republic, which lasted for two years and 120 thousand civilians
were killed, i.e. about 12,5 % of the inhabitants. About 400 thousand people
became refugees (more than 30 % of total), 74 thousand people, 19 thousand
being children, became handicapped, 12 thousand children were orphaned. The
economy was destroyed, 80 % of infrastructure, museums, libraries and
institutions of higher education were completely destructed.
Russia did not perform any active military actions for almost three
years, but the Moscow authority used all the methods to instigate an
internal conflict in Chechnya. The special services of Russia carried out
numerous provocations against the Chechen nation and the leadership of the
Republic. However, when those measures failed, there were purposefully
incited events in Dagestan in 1999. After that the Russian authorities
blamed the Chechen leadership and the whole Chechen nation for the
aggression and international terrorism.
Although on 12 May 1997 the presidents of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
and Russian Federation had signed a Peace Treaty which ended the discords of
400 years, and ensured the future relations to be based on international
law, the special services Russia of and the collaborating propaganda were
gearing up for the new war.
In September 1999 the world again became a witness to the next
aggression perpetrated against the Chechen nation and the independence of
the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. 50 thousand people were killed in
1999-2000. The Russian air and land forces ruined the towns and villages,
destructed infrastructure, economy, historical heritage and upset the
ecological balance. About 20 filtration camps, also known as death factories
were established. All the Chechen people became refugees, what is
unprecedented in the world history. Contagious diseases have spread around
the country, people died of famine and unsanitary living conditions. More
than 80 thousand soldiers performed military operations, plundered, burnt
and massacred the civilians, including women and children, tortured in most
atrocious manners, raped women. (At the end of the year 2001 Aminat Saijeva
informed that the military actions have been proceeded for four years
already and are still continued. Since the beginning of the war, on 11
December in 1994 about 250 thousand people have been killed and about 526
thousand people have been injured. The Russian armed forces have laid more
than 500 thousand land mines, used arms prohibited by international
conventions and also experimented with the chemical weapon. Russian officers
and soldiers have seized about 75 % of the humanitarian aid provided by the
international organizations. The material damage done during the 1994-1996
war amounts about 260 billion US dollars. Only 220 thousand out of 1 500
thousand people in 1994 live in Chechnya at the moment. The quantity of the
Russian officers and soldiers is between 80 and 150 thousand.)
In all the territory of Russia the Chechens are being persecuted according
to national features, arrested, tried for fictitious reasons, and penned in
without any trial or an investigation.
High officials of Russia call it a fight with criminal groups and
terrorists.
These crimes of the Communist regime have a legal definition –
genocide. However, unlike the Fascist regime the Stalinist-communist and
present genocide has not yet been condemned, its perpetrators not punished
and the outcomes not eliminated. The Communist and post-Communist regimes of
Russia have been intending and still try to decimate the Chechen nation
morally.
In the name of general human values and justice, the innocent people
and nations massacred must the Communist regime be denounced and its
perpetrators – punished.
Such were some points made by Ms. Aminat Saijeva in her indictment speech,
which lasted for almost an hour.
Some points from the operative part of the JUDGEMENT of the
International Vilnius Public Tribunal:
1. To call public attention to the continual war crimes and the heinous
crimes against peace and humanity (genocide). The world community, the
leaders of the big nations in particular, have been indifferent to the
killings of millions of innocent people.
6. The International Public Tribunal in Vilnius perceives the war in
Chechnya as produced by the continuing amalgamation of Russian imperialism
and the former Communist doctrine, which has led to and obvious genocide of
the Chechen people.
14. The Judgment of the International Public Tribunal in Vilnius and
the evidence collected must be submitted to an international criminal trial
under the auspices of the United Nations.
DRAGON FEAST
The Communist regime torturers, their handymen, henchmen and
collaborators decimated more than 100 million people. Lenin killed 13
million people, Stalin – 30 million, Mao – 65 million, Chaushesku – 0,3
million, Pol Pot – 3 million. The humanity suffered vast moral, cultural,
ethnical and material losses.
Under the veil of class struggle mechanism, proletariat protection and fight
with “bourgeois nationalists” most atrocious massacres, deportations,
pillages, abuse, violence were perpetrated and conflicts between people were
instigated. As a subsequence of these event is unleashed the II World War
which has shaken the world to its foundations. The Communist regime was
getting stronger, the outcomes becoming more intense and more atrocious.
In 1991 Hussein was repressed for Kuwait occupation. Miloshevich was
committed for international Tribunal in Hague for the genocide perpetrated
against Albanians, Serbs, Bosnians and Croatians. However, no respective
actions have been taken regarding the genocide of Chechens, Ingushetia
people and Tibetans. We should consider that Chinese decimated about 1 500
thousand Tibetans, i.e. every fifth citizen. Almost the whole nation has
been deported. Then let us assume that if Chinese were murdered at the same
rate the victims would amount to about 250 million people.
The Communists had been perpetrating the genocide of Lithuanians for
fifty years. The Lithuanian nation lost one third of its 3 million
population; the material damage totaling 278 billion US dollars.
The outcomes would be difficult to imagine if Russians were decimated in the
same manner they have been acting in Chechnya.
Hitler massacred about 12 million people. The Fascist regime had been
put on trial in Nuremberg, where an objective evaluation was made and a
harsh judgment was passed.
Having a record of much grander crimes, the Communist regime has
escaped international trial and now continues to act in different shapes.
The soldiers, clergymen, doctors and officials that had acted in
battles and expeditions in 1857-1859 were acknowledged with the medal of the
Russian emperor Alexander II “For Conquering Dagestan and Chechnya”. 147
thousand medals were made from silver. Ipso facto, the Emperor himself
confirmed that Chechnya had never been the territory of Russia. I believe
that the Communists of the USSR have rewarded many more torturers for
decimating Chechnya and Ingushetia people than the Emperor Alexander II had.
So acts and the present nomenclature of Russia. Even the actions of the
Russian Patriarch Aleksij II, are a matter of great concern since His
Excellency conferred ecclesiastical decorations on the torturers of Chechens
and blessed them to the war.
The ex-president of Russia Boris Yeltzin appointed the KGB colonel
Vladimir Putin a prime minister and assigned him to “restore order” in
Chechnya. The Russian people elected him a president for his “exploits” in
Chechnya. Putin claims and confirms to all the world that Russia is fighting
against terrorists. The leaderships of Russia state the idea that Chechnya
is the constituent part of the Russian Federation. However, no country can
be found in the world that would make its administrative unit a field of
military actions and would destroy everything and everyone there. Russians
are performing more brutal actions in Chechnya than the Fascist did in
Leningrad, or Chinese in Tibet, Miloshevich in Kosov, or Hussein in Kuwait.
Is it that the great authorities of the world do not distinguish between
Russia performing such acts as burning of the soil, massacre of people as
well as deportation policy and between the terrorist sorties? Can the feeble
geriatrics, women, children and the unborn act as terrorists, and land,
livestock, water, cultural heritage and residences be the tools of
terrorism? Is the four-year lasting occupation and ravage of Chechnya, most
atrocious tortures and massacre perpetrated by the centi-thousand armed
forces against civilians an element of the fight against terrorism?
Consequently, Russia is a terrorist itself. Its politics has always
been based on occupational doctrines.
The world is anxious. However, the leaderships of the most powerful
countries have been silent so far. The explanations of Russia as fighting
against terrorism obviously satisfy somebody. Such is the subservient and
mutual policy of the mighty powers of the world. Evidently, the principles
of world division and predatory attitudes have not vanished yet. Such policy
justifies all the means and projects the outcomes.
Does the world apply the value scale when assessing the events and
outcomes, victims and torturers? The locution saying that the one is right
who possesses most privileges, power and money is still likely to dominate.
The terrorist actions of September 11, 2001 destroyed two skyscrapers
and damaged Pentagon. About 5 thousand people were killed; huge material
harm was done. The world countries condemned the terrorist organizers, the
perpetrators and launched the anti-terrorist campaign.
Many surely know that forces of hundred thousands of murderers are
being formed in Russia and the instructions telling to kill the Chechen are
given in Moscow-Kremlin.
Is the Russian governmental terrorism going to be covered much further?
Will the world unite to evaluate the outcomes of the Russian genocide
against Chechen nation? Will the tragedy and pain of others, such as
Chechnya and Tibet ever be perceived the same way as was perceived the
terror in America?
The Dragon Feast continues. The great countries and their leaderships
do not express their position regarding the genocide of Chechen. On one
hand, they are criminals too, on the other, they are probably afraid and
avoid any interference. This is how are perpetrated international crimes,
the name and result of which are – DEATH. The future will show if emerges in
the world a power able to countervail those DRAGONS.
THE AMBASSADOR
On January 1995 the President Djohar Dudajev appoint Ms. Aminat Saijeva
the representative of Chechnya to Lithuania. On June 1997 the President
Aslan Mashadov accredited her the Ambassador to Lithuania.
In Lithuania she represents a northern Caucasus state, the Chechen
Republic of Ichkeria with area is 17,5 thousand sq. km, capital – Djohargala
and population in 1994 amounting to 1 500 thousand people, but now …?
Compared to other accredited Embassies of foreign states in Lithuania
Saijeva is the only one not yet accredited. The union of world states has
not yet recognized the independence of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.
Aminat Saijeva authorized by the President of Chechnya and she performs
actions based on sociability principles. However, this work and influence is
of great significance to her country and union of democratic states.
The Ambassador Saijeva is not applied general regulations and statutes
of intercourse, audience, diplomatic immunity nor protocol requirements.
During the four-year term of his office the President of Lithuania Valdas
Adamkus and the Presidency have not expressed a wish to meet Ms. Saijeva.
Neither the chairman of the Parliament Arturas Paulauskas declaring a
statement “that we have deserved a better life, and we care of a single
person” nor the Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas, the former first
secretary of the Lithuanian Communist Party and then the social democrat,
saying for equality and fraternity of nations, saw it necessary to meet
Aminat Saijeva. The present leaders of Government and Parliament distance
from her, whereas the same leaders meet representatives of different states,
people of diverse backgrounds and solve various problems. I would not be
able to explain this phenomenon. What I am positive about is that the same
high officials have not made any significant input into the fights for
restoration and protection of independence, nor have they called people to
defend the independence; and they did not have to blood for the
independence. They only use and exploit this independence.
Many Lithuanians support the Chechens and their fight for independence.
The supporters organize meetings, conferences, lectures, pickets and
demonstrations of protest at the entrance to the Embassy of Russia. Those
people submit resolutions adopted to the United Nations Organization,
European Parliament, Parliamentary Assembly of the European Council,
European Security and Collaboration Organization, European Union, leaders of
Lithuania and the Great Powers as well as to the Embassies of foreign
countries to Lithuania.
The most active supporters are the former partisans (they are the
phenomenon of freedom fights, as having fought against the establishment of
Communist regime in Lithuania for ten years since 1944 and lost about 20
thousand people), former political prisoners, deportees and participants of
“Sajudis”, the revolutionary movement for independence restoration in 1990.
Grand academicians, professors, personalities of science and art, former
participants of freedom fights, students and other people meet the
Ambassador Saijeva as she is considered a participant of freedom fights of
the heroic nation, the Ambassador of the state which is under destruction.
Lithuanian people do not know any other politician so close than Aminat
Saijeva and address her by name. Ms. Saijeva also meets high officials of
many countries and international organizations.
Her means of fight are politics and public activities. The Ambassador
is very much armed with love for her motherland and respect to the
oppressed. At first sight she is no more than an ordinary, modest Vilnius
citizen walking around the town, going also by busses and trolleybuses. As
well as her country she is poor. Many could envy her diligence and strength.
However, she does not envy the servants of the foreign embassies their
prestigious places of work and living conditions. Ms. Saijeva is persistent
even if high officials ignore her. Being noble, calm, reserved and
considerate as the ancient oracles, she knows her mission, the heart cry,
her nation’s strive and the basics of politics. The Ambassador is grateful
for Lithuanian people for the respecting and supporting her nation.
I do not know how many people had a chance to see Ms. Saijeva crying,
but time from time the way she looked, wavering lips, changing intonation
showed the sorrow and pain coming from the heart.
Many Lithuania people are grateful to Iceland for being the first in the
world to recognize its independence. Therefore, they are concerned the
government of Lithuania has not been able to recognize the Chechen Republic
of Ichkeria DE JURE though Chechnya has been DE FACTO for ten years already.
The action of Iceland opened the way for Lithuania towards the recognition
of the independence and union of world nations, and stopped the Russian
aggressors. If the world stated had supported Chechnya there would not be
innocent people bleeding and heartbreaking screams and cries heard in the
towns, villages, coombs, fields and mountains. The souls of the massacres
float around us asking the God for help and blessing. Let us think about how
the children of the Creator act.
A part of the heroic nation, Ms. Saijeva resides in the old Vilnius, which
has always been significant symbol in the Lithuanian history and amazed the
world when Lithuania forced it way out of the Communist regime. The
Ambassador considers the ideals of politics and fights to be the President
of Chechnya Djohar Dudayev, who was brutally murdered by Russians using the
latest technologies of killing in 21 April 1996 and a Lithuanian, professor
Vytautas Landsbergis.
The day when Chechnya will commemorate the independence restoration is
approaching. The flag at half-mast will hover above the INDEPENDENCE altar.
The nation will pay tribute to the dead, the victims and the heroes. Ms.
Aminat Saijeva, the only ambassador having been born in exile, in Kazakhstan
and now working in Lithuania under the conditions of exile, will also be
commemorated.
On 7-8 December 2001 an International Conference on Peace in Chechnya
will take place Lithuanian Academy of Science in Vilnius. The protest
demonstration to remember the beginning of the Russian colonial war against
Chechnya will be taking place at the entrance to the Embassy of Russia at 12
o’clock on 11 December. The attention of the world will be drawn to the
genocide perpetrated against Chechens by Russia. The demonstration will seek
to make Russia stop the war actions in Chechnya, keep to the Peace Treaty of
12 May 1997 and also compensate the damage.
I participated in the International Congress on the Evaluation of the
Crimes of Communism and denounced Communism in the International Vilnius
Public Tribunal.
This letter is intended to leaders of some countries, some
organizations, newspaper offices, news, radio and television agencies.
I would very much appreciate that at least a part of the ideas
expressed here, sorrow and sad experience would reach your surroundings,
your readers, radio and television audience.
I am grateful for this possibility and for your attention.
Merry coming Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.
Peace, Health and Luck to You.
Let God bless you.
Respectfully yours,
Leonas Kerosierius
Supporter of the Independence of Chechnya
Erfurto 46-64, LT-2043 Vilnius , Lithuania, Tel.: + 370 2 318 111 , e-mail:
leonaske@mail.lt
P.S. Should this letter or a part of it be published or anounced, I would
very much like to receive a copy of it.
Gedimino ave. 1, LT-
01103, Vilnius, Lithunia.
Tel.: + 370 673 95 837, +370 5 2318111, +370 699
37691
e-mail: vilnius@sajudis.com