Foreign Minister Qasymzhomart Toqaev told parliamentary deputies in Astana that there are already 12,000 Chechens in the country "who are essentially refugees" although they do not have that legal status. In the aftermath of the Chechens' failed attempt to force Russia to cease its war in Chechnya the harassment of Chechens in Russia appears to have got worse. For several years a fragile peace was maintained - though not in Chechnya itself. Poverty and unemployment persisted there. There were continuous reports about kidnappings and violence in the region, known for a long time for its cruelty and lawlessness. Several British engineers were kidnapped and beheaded during those years. There were rumors that they were executed on the order of Osama bin Laden.
When finally Chechen fighters raided neighboring Dagestan, Russia had the long awaited excuse to start military operations in its rebel province, especially since Chechens allegedly bombed several apartment buildings in Moscow. During the international fight against terrorism, the Chechens gradually lost ground in the eyes of world community and made desperate attempts to gain international support. The recent raid on a Moscow theater was apparently planned on the eve of the PASE Conference in Netherlands. However it brought devastating results instead. The Chechen official Zakayev is still in custody in Netherlands and Russian Forces have launched another offensive in Chechnya.
