Liberated' Chechnya Far From Orderly Welcome to occupied, liberated Chechnya - where the Russian authorities claim to be bringing in order and helping people live stable, ordinary lives. Although Moscow says its operation in Chechnya is aimed at restoring law, order, and normal life, Chechens describe a vengeful occupying army whose soldiers often seem intent on punishing everyone, whether or not they are rebel fighters. It is a war that is dangerous not only for Chechnya, but also for Russia itself, as it could affect the way the country develops. Now there is a chance to establish peace in Chechnya and to save Russia as a civilised country. Later on it will be much more difficult.
Much business remains to be done.
The international community in fact has thus came real close to a kind of a psychological barrier. It started in January 1996 when a group of Chechen raiders took 350 hostages in a Dagestani hospital. But Dagestanis have been even more discouraged by the consequences of Chechen lawlessness since Moscow negotiated peace with Chechnya in August 1996. It is obscene to blame victims for their suffering All empires come to an end. The Russian Empire is at its end.