12 p. Understanding Psychological Differences Can Further Peace

ROGOZIN: Here in this library, we have studied the growth and disintegration of ethnic cultures. They all start small, but what causes them to grow and become dominant?

The obvious answer is that a large enough fraction of the people have an “excess energy”, and demand to DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. This excess energy in the Chechens allows them to get quickly excited about an idea, and may just as quickly resort to radical actions.

When this fire in the people burns hotter it eventually wears out, and the passion decreases. Then at a certain point other (normal) people get “fed-up” with excesses, and the society stabilizes into and “inertial period”. This inertia, or harmony, can be quite creative, and it is what we call “civilization”. Thus, the ethnic cultures that are in a harmony phase, view those cultures in the hot-head stage as inferior, as barbarians. All the major civilization had that attitude about the tribes that surrounded them. But in order to coexist with other cultures with a minimum of friction, a certain understanding of their mind-set would be essential. 3,400 words

THE WARLORDS OF CHECHNYA

Dmitry Rogozin communicated with Chechens a lot, and once he tried to put some of his personal observations into writing, hoping that they would be helpful in composing a psychological-portrait of the Chechen people. With no understanding of specifics of the Vainakh psychological type and mentality, our politicians and military should never have attempted to tamper with Chechnya in the first place.

Any national army worldwide must not only be trained to shoot well, fight skillfully and take settlements by storm, but also be able to retain the once-established control of an area by building a non-hostile rapport with the local population. Moreover, in some instances an insight into mysteries of a national soul may allow to overtake territories without striking a blow; as a result of the correct approach to the national issue, a backfire just might be substituted by flowers, and nice ladies would welcome soldiers with traditional bread and salt.

When thinking about it, I could not grasp why the Kremlin plunged yesterday’s schoolchildren (young soldiers), into the thick of Chechnya; they had no combat survival skills and a very limited understanding of where exactly they were put and what kind of people they had to deal with. Then I decided to have a go at a brief analysis of Chechen national character and came up with the following:

____________

✓Until we learn to understand the Chechen people, we will never succeed in establishing peace in the Chechen Republic. The mentality and value system of Chechens are significantly different from that of Russians. Like all mountain peoples in the area, Chechens get quickly excited about an idea and then cool down just as quickly. At the same time, educated Chechens possess clarity of vision to spot potential gain. Their behavior is always motivated by pursuit of these gains.

The showy vehemence of Chechens may bring them sympathy from a Russian who would typically take it as a display of amiability, truthfulness and altruism. However, one must remember that behind all such manifestations there is almost always a practical goal that a Chechen is set to achieve.

Where a Russian would find an ambiguity, for a Chechen there is none. He might act friendly towards someone whom he had nearly murdered five minutes ago. He might hate a person with whom he was on the warmest terms, until recently. This great difference between our two value systems means that something that you regard as a treachery, may be seen by Chechens as a mere cunning, luck, or the proficiency in dealing with outsiders.

✓Ordinary Chechens see Russians primarily as conquerors who tread upon “the land of our forefathers”. This is a consequence of the implantation of the false historical concept of Russia as a “prison of nations” and of the myth on “the 200-year Russian warfare” combined with the rapid post-war expansion of the Chechen flatland population. When speaking to Chechen people, you should defer to their misguided opinion on Russians, and disprove them in a calm and reasonable way.

✓You must remember that Russia represents a link between Chechnya and the global civilization. This demands that Russians must at all times be conscious of their mission in the territory of Chechnya. You have to realize that such things as sloppy language, swearing, signs of disrespect towards women and the elderly, and ostentatious rudeness give Chechens an impression that the greatness of the Russian culture is a fake. And if this is the case, a step from contempt to enmity will be a short one.

Drinking in public and drunken debauchery repel the religious Chechens. The dry law must be imposed in all military quarters in the territory of Chechnya. Rowdy drunken servicemen in the Muslim environment irritate religious people; this in turn contributes to the formation of a disrespectful perception of the Federal Army. Soldiers and officers who have been partaking must not be allowed on duty, particularly, they must not take part in special operations.

A Chechen, as well as any other person whom you may encounter, must be treated with respect. You never know whether a Chechen may be a friend or a foe; therefore, it is best to assume that he might be helpful if you manage to gain his sympathy. The simplest way to achieve this is to be considerate. Even a slightly exaggerated admiration for a home of a Chechen, his possessions, or his professional skills would not go amiss.

We must not forget that due to the history of deportation into the Russian-speaking Kazakhstan, Chechens have a better command of the Russian language than other peoples of the Caucasus; their good Russian pronunciation can always serve as a cause for a genuine compliment.

A perceived air of superiority of a Russian over a Chechen is bound to be met by either a criticism of the Russians’ behavior in general, or an open demonstration of a Chechen’s superiority. You would react in almost the same way if you were in his place — if you were being condescended to.

✓You will earn respect of Chechens if they can see that you are familiar with the local customs, and if you display your knowledge of Islam, which should not be inferior to theirs. Ordinary Chechens, although not deeply religious, have high regard for those who practice religion; they are not averse to pointing out that they live according to the Law of Allah. Manifestation of a live faith in a Russian, instead of talks about religious tolerance or debates on the verity of one religion as opposed to another — this is what will earn you respect from a Chechen.

Russian Orthodox rituals serve to prove to Chechens that we are not conquerors but a cultured nation and the bearers of one of the world’s mainstream religions.

✓Chechens have to be reminded of the “pre-war” times when they used to live without hatred alongside Russians. The memory of that might trigger a desire for returning to the state of peace amongst the mature generations and would give hope for overcoming today’s fear and instability to the young.

The sore spot for any Chechen is an issue of deportation during the Stalin’s era. Chechens would be offended by a suggestion that the deportation had been anything other than genocide. At the same time, you should remind Chechens that they had not settled in their land exclusively, and that Russians, too, suffered horrendously from Stalin’s repressions.

✓Hospitality of Chechens is of a rather different sort than that of Russians. They customarily show hospitality to near strangers, and a guest of theirs might be ever so impressed by the kindness of his hosts. However, such hospitality does not imply a beginning of a special friendship or any ties or duties on a host’s part. It is very important for a Chechen to feel his magnitude. Because of that, they enjoy receiving symbolic awards and occupying administrative positions, which also gives them an opportunity to help their numerous friends and relatives.

In order to strengthen your ties with a Chechen, you have to lavish him with signs of attention. It is advisable to invite him to your home rather than to continue visiting his.

✓It is important to realize that once a Chechen holds an administrative position he becomes a potential target for a warlords’ attack; it takes plenty of courage for him to accept and maintain such a position (unless, of course, he had entered into a deal with criminals beforehand).

High respect for the elderly, particularly for patriarchs and for secular and spiritual authorities alike, is still preserved in the everyday Chechen life. The Chechen parents enjoy dutiful affection of their extended families.

✓Please take into consideration the specifics of the Chechen men’s attitude to women. Whilst Chechen men appear to treat women in their families in a strict manner, they are very protective of them, and will not tolerate from others any rudeness or disrespect towards their women. Making passes at Chechen women, dubious jokes, attempts to introduce “free love” — in the eyes of a Chechen all this contributes to the “image of an enemy” who impinges his most sacred, i.e. his family.

Chechen warlords often use women in public scandals or in armed provocations of all sorts.

The federal government and the military find themselves cornered: either there will be no order imposed at all, or it would be necessary to “insult” Chechen women or even apply force against them in the presence of Chechen men. In situations like these, ✓you have to identify the man to hold negotiations with. We know from recent experience that confusion of federal military during a “psychological attack” on Chechen females inevitably results in victims on the side of the federal authorities. Whenever possible, you should avoid even engaging in conversations with Chechen women. We must succumb to the Chechen way of negotiating with males and dismissing females from “men’s business”.

✓The practice of taking hostages is an ancient Chechen custom, the one that even the Soviet power failed to eradicate. Hostages are typically treated with extreme harshness. That is why it is not advisable to conduct oneself irresponsibly or in a colonial mode while on a mission in Chechnya. It is of the utmost importance that you take precautions so as to avoid becoming a hostage and feeling on your own skin the full extent of hostility that Chechens have built up against Russians.

Your colleagues must be aware of your whereabouts and the expected timings of your returns at all times. It is advisable to move around either well-armed, or together with reliable guards and in groups of at least five. You must also be on alert if approached by a group of locals, even when there are onlookers nearby, including persons familiar to you.

However, if a disaster strikes, and you fall into the hands of bandits, you must prepare yourself for a release by all possible means. Escaping from captivity used to be extremely risky in the period of the warlords’ total control over the territory of Chechnya; however, today an escape could be your only option and deliverance from imminent death. One has to prepare for escape by lulling the vigilance of bandits in every possible way. Only take action when absolutely certain.

Do not protest in any way. It is best to hide all your protests behind a virtual wall of silence. Do as you are told, but only what you are able to do in your condition, and without undue eagerness. Never look your tormentors in the eyes. When prompted, answer their questions but give brief answers. Do not engage in discussions or offer revelations. Any pleas for mercy, attempts to flatter or please would only cause the opposite effect. Similarly, a hostage who threatens his captors with revenge or assumes an air of superiority may spark a cruel reaction.

It is important not to disclose the residential addresses of your family and friends or relatives, as they might become a target for ransom demands and threats. If forced, you should name an outdated or an altogether non-existent address. The crucial thing is to play for time and prepare for an escape.

✓A Chechen wishes to come across very persuasive in his conversations with others; with this purpose in mind, he often exaggerates his merits and success stories. In doing so, he sometimes grows to believe that his estimations reflect reality. One must be aware of this trait and take it with good grace, and without irony that might seem offensive to a Chechen. There are many dreamers among Russians, too.

A conflict or an argument that has been resolved verbally is not deemed to be exhausted by a Chechen. Even if the duelists shook hands and agreed that one of them, the Chechen, lost the fight, this does not mean that he would not launch into a battle again five seconds later. Therefore, it is not advisable to give one person a chance to prove his physical superiority. Use of military force and actions of law enforcement must be concise, predictable and correct, but with no leniency, as this would be viewed as a sign of weakness, and Chechens would be tempted to test your resilience again.

✓Quarrels between Chechens may be quite dangerous, as they have no restraining boundaries. An ordinary argument could potentially devolve into a full-blown conflict and an ongoing antagonism between family clans. This is why Chechens, unlike Russians, readily appeal to a third party to resolve their internal arguments. To become such a party, it is enough to hold any official status and to be prepared to act as an amicable compounder, motivated not by own interests (which would be spotted by Chechens at once, and their trust in you would vanish), but by fairness. Participation in resolution of Chechen internal conflicts is one of the most effective ways to affirm the need for Russians in them.

The tragic events of the last decade reinstated such mountaineer customs as “blood revenge” in Chechnya. The inevitability of revenge to an offender or to his family members is an expression of ✓the self-preservation instinct in the conditions of rampant crime. The lack of similar traditions among the non-Chechen population largely created a sense of impunity, with which warlords or gangsters committed their crimes against the defenseless Russian civilians. Your conduct in Chechnya must be based on the moral and political principle of inevitability of a punishment for a crime that has been committed.

✓In their molding and feeding the feelings of hatred for Russia and her people, Chechen bandit leaders are prepared to come up with dirty frame-ups; often they do not stop at sacrificing their own people’s lives at that. It has been known for Chechen militants (including those of Slavic descent and Slavic looks) to wear a federal uniform by orders of their “field commanders” and to slaughter innocent Chechen civilians in front of their fellow villagers. External ill-wishers of Russia refer extensively to the facts of such crimes in their criticism of the federal Government’s actions in the North Caucasus; these facts are used in order to create the criminal and barbarous image of the Russian military.

The explanatory work among the population in Chechnya requires greater attention on our part; this work should be done with the help of local activists and the Chechen intelligentsia. Communication with Islamic religious leaders and Orthodox priests is of utmost significance. People must see that the law applies indiscriminately to local criminal elements and to representatives of the federal power, if they are guilty of criminal conduct.

✓Chechnya today feeds on rumors, gossip, and myths. The Chechen society is in need of true and objective information. Chechens have a high regard for the concept of fairness and equality; if they see that the actions of the federals are tough - but just, they would be favorably impressed.

By nature, Chechens are rather credulous; they might follow a positive or a negative example with equal enthusiasm. We need to earn more credentials in our treatment of the local population. It is important to bear in mind that Chechens respect strength and value justice and fairness. However, cases of ungrounded arrests or unjustified use of force may break the fragile trust between the locals and the military, which has taken so much effort to achieve.

Another thing to remember is that the familial, local, patrimonial, and clannish bonds have always been very powerful in Chechnya. Elements of the mutual cover-up culture are still well alive there; because of this, chances are that any information coming from locals might be inaccurate and, therefore, it has to be verified carefully. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon among the Chechen federal agents to knowingly give false information, wishing to get even with a hostile clan; any information from them must be handled with extreme caution.

✓Prior to conducting a special operation in a settlement, it is very important to detect a circle of authority figures on which the federal forces can rely for support in establishing relations of trust with the population. The same circle may be responsible for the formation of a self-governing local body and for the law-and-order maintenance in an aul, (rural locality), or a village. In the agitation campaign, it is necessary to stress the need to resist Wahhabi, Arab mercenaries and terrorists who are entrenched in the territory of the Chechen Republic.

These groups are considered to be the major enemies of the people, and such a view is now beginning to dominate in the Chechen circles.

✓Russian servicemen must treat with care the cultural sites and artefacts in places of military dispositions, and in the course of military operations; they must never allow desecration of mosques and of places of worship, destruction of burial places of Ustaz Sheikhs or Islamic tower complexes, mausoleums, and cemeteries. In the aspect of gaining trust of the population, it is extremely important to protect the natural environment, areas of natural beauty, and cultural monuments.

You must remember at all times that law is on your side, and that law is the power of the Russian presence in Chechnya. You are a living embodiment of the law. Any unlawfulness, any acts of anarchy (even those that do not cause tangible damage) would be discussed among Chechens, prone to exaggerating matters and fabricating details. Any action that implies infringement of interests of the Chechen population must be sustained by an administrative decision and backed by relevant documentation. A Chechen needs to see that he is dealing with the law, and not with somebody’s private will.

Remember, chances are that if you antagonize a Chechen by your inappropriate conduct, he would turn into a bandit, and a series of killings and atrocities will follow. Innocent people will suffer, and your own life will be at risk too. The task of all representatives of federal power, including officers and soldiers on anti-terrorist missions in the territory of Chechnya, is to learn how to win friends there, even if these friends would not be entirely loyal. Otherwise, we will not be able to achieve our main objective, which is to establish peace and to reinforce national integrity of the Russian state.

I wrote this memo, based primarily on my personal impressions, in February 2002. It was submitted to heads of the Defense and the law enforcement structures. Unfortunately, very few of the recipients showed interest in the material or seriously thought of putting it to use in their fieldwork. {Actually many, (like now in America), accused Rogozin with treachery, being soft on the adversary, and siding with the “enemy”. As we now say: anyone who wants peace, is “Putin’s Puppet”.}

______________________

The President (Putin) agreed to study the memo. He asked me which additional references I had used in preparing the document. “I used the poets Alexander Pushkin and Mikhail Lermontov as well as Leo Tolstoy. All three of them wrote about the Abrek traditions and the customs of mountaineers. Russian classical literature is full of extensive descriptions of the Chechen history, as well as the history of other nations of the Caucasus and their customs. We simply have to re-read the classics; and that would stop us from falling into the same trap over and over again,” I answered.

There are no reasons to believe that my sketch on the mentality of Chechens served as a reference in the military personnel anti-terrorist indoctrination programs, or that it helped to save a single Russian or a Chechen life. I doubt that the top military officials, overloaded with personal preoccupations, found the time to acquaint themselves with my memo. A possibility of its practical implementation is even more remote.

Just as I submitted the memo to the President, I made a request to be sent to Chechnya in the capacity of his envoy with the objective of securing the constitutional order there. I was certain that I would be capable of accomplishing the task of coordinating activities of the law enforcement bloc there; I was also keen to establish the due control over expenditures out of the budgetary funds allocated for reconstruction of Chechnya and to ensure that the spending was legitimate.

“We need you in the Duma”, the President pointedly cut me off, and the question was never again raised at our subsequent meetings. Pity, though. The murder of Akhmad Kadyrov, the terrorist attacks on Nazran, Nalchik and Beslan, terrorist attacks in the Moscow Metro and in the Domodedovo Airport, almost daily bomb explosions in Dagestan — all of this is a confirmation that the Russian policy in the Caucasus is not as effective as it could be. There is no guarantee that horrendous acts of terrorism will not happen again tomorrow, and this means that Russians continue to live on the Caucasian volcano.

.