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War-ravaged Chechnya marks bitter anniversary
December 11, 1996
Web posted at: 2:15 p.m. EST (1915 GMT)From Correspondent Betsy Aaron
GROZNY, Chechnya (CNN) -- Thousands of people gathered in central Grozny on Wednesday to mark the second anniversary since Russian troops stormed Chechnya to squelch an independence drive.
Two years after that strike, Russian soldiers are leaving Chechnya, but the legacy of 21 months of war remains: broken bodies, devastated cities, demoralized troops, defeat.
"It was nice when I realized that that's it, I'm leaving," said one Russian soldier on his way out of Chechnya. "That this asinine war is almost over for me."
Russia had intended for it to be a quick, surgical strike -- 40,000 troops with tanks, planes and weapons would sweep into Chechnya and topple the independence-minded regime of Dzhokhar Dudayev.
Nearly two years later, Dudayev is dead, but the desire for independence lives on, stronger than ever.
"Russian troops are being withdrawn now," said human rights activist Sergei Kovalyov. "As long as there are no troops ... there is no war."
The Russians -- in the person of Alexander Lebed, who has since been fired as chief of national security -- negotiated a truce three months ago that included a five-year delay on any decision regarding independence.
In the meantime, the Chechens are beginning to build their own state, based on Islamic law, out of the rubble of war. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for January 27, and the campaigning has already begun.
The message now is the same as it was before the war:
"The bottom line is that we're going to have strong, free state independent of everyone," said rebel commander Shamil Basayev.
It was 21 months of war, fought largely in the streets of Grozny -- a battle for Chechen independence that was not quite won, but not quite lost. And the thousands gathered in central Grozny Wednesday were not quite celebrating the end of a war that cost its people -- and the Russians sent to fight the rebels -- immeasurably.
Related stories:
- Human rights activist wants Chechen elections delayed - December 7, 1996
- New Russian security chief meets Chechen rebels - October 27, 1996
- Chechen rebels sign agreement with Russia - June 10, 1996
- Chechen leader confirmed dead - April 24, 1996
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