Pankisi Gorge

Malika stands at a Road block, because of her documents she is not able to leave the military zone, Malika lost her son during the war and tries to meet with other woman who had the same experience.<br>---------------------------------------------------<br><br>During some period , Chechens have been using the Georgian area of the Pankisi valley as a fall back base for their war inside Chechnya, training  recrutes and medical assistance were all possible because the Georgian government was not able to control the area.<br>Since a few month's things have chanced, because Russian pressure forced the Georgian Government to take steps with Russia's assistance.<br>After this decision life has totally changed for the remaining Chechens, many fighters have left into Chechnya, others hide and the thousands of refugees from Chechnya who are still there, experience the Russian/Georgian cooperation the hard way, but with remarkable strength they live on.<br>Man are being arrested and questioned , if they show up at checkpoints, and road blocks seal the valley from Georgia as well as Chechnya.<br>Georgian locals are close with Chechen culture and don't want to cooperate with Russian secret police, who they see as their common enemy, but the many soldiers from Tbilisi are in control of the area.<br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border, dec 2002
A Letter from a Chechen,<br><br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border, dec 2002
Chechen hairdcut, with on the wall the writing of Ihkeria, the south part of Chechnya who wants to split up Chechnya as a possible solution to the conflict.<br>------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br>During period , Chechens have been using the Georgian area of the Pankisi valley as a fall back base for their war inside Chechnya, training  recrutes and medical assistance were all possible because the Georgian government was not able to control the area.<br>Since a few month's this has chanced, because Russian pressure forced the Georgian Government to take steps with Russia's assistance.<br>After this decision life has totally changed for the Chechens, most fighters have left and the thousands of refugees from Chechnya who are still there, experience the Russian/Georgian cooperation the hard way.<br>Man are being arrested and questioned , if they show up at checkpoints, and road blocks seal the valley from Georgia as well as Chechnya.<br>Georgian locals are  close with Chechens and don't want to cooperate with Russian secret police, who they see as their enemy, but the many soldiers from Tbilisi are in control of the area.<br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border, dec 2002
Aslambek's familie owns a horse, that brought them through the mountains 2 years ago, today he is helping his Grantmother to receive some flower from an aid organisation.<br>-------------------------------------------------<br>During some period , Chechens have been using the Georgian area of the Pankisi valley as a fall back base for their war inside Chechnya, training  recrutes and medical assistance were all possible because the Georgian government was not able to control the area.<br>Since a few month's this has chanced, because Russian pressure forced the Georgian Government to take steps with Russia's assistance.<br>After this decision life has totally changed for the Chechens, most fighters have left and the thousands of refugees from Chechnya who are still there, experience the Russian/Georgian cooperation the hard way.<br>Man are being arrested and questioned , if they show up at checkpoints, and road blocks seal the valley from Georgia as well as Chechnya.<br>Georgian locals are  close with Chechens and don't want to cooperate with Russian secret police, who they see as their enemy, but the many soldiers from Tbilisi are in control of the area.<br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border, dec 2002
Mamuka lost his leg during the war, he is lucky to have a good protese, friends trasported it from the west.<br>--------------------------------------------------------<br>During some period , Chechens have been using the Georgian area of the Pankisi valley as a fall back base for their war inside Chechnya, training  recrutes and medical assistance were all possible because the Georgian government was not able to control the area.<br>Since a few month's this has chanced, because Russian pressure forced the Georgian Government to take steps with Russia's assistance.<br>After this decision life has totally changed for the Chechens, most fighters have left and the thousands of refugees from Chechnya who are still there, experience the Russian/Georgian cooperation the hard way.<br>Man are being arrested and questioned , if they show up at checkpoints, and road blocks seal the valley from Georgia as well as Chechnya.<br>Georgian locals are  close with Chechens and don't want to cooperate with Russian secret police, who they see as their enemy, but the many soldiers from Tbilisi are in control of the area.<br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border
Moving through the region, roadblocks appear often, papers and car's are checked, worst are the ones where Russian security asks the questions, where we move one.. another car followes.<br>-----------------------------------------------<br>During some period , Chechens have been using the Georgian area of the Pankisi valley as a fall back base for their war inside Chechnya, training  recrutes and medical assistance were all possible because the Georgian government was not able to control the area.<br>Since a few month's this has chanced, because Russian pressure forced the Georgian Government to take steps with Russia's assistance.<br>After this decision life has totally changed for the Chechens, most fighters have left and the thousands of refugees from Chechnya who are still there, experience the Russian/Georgian cooperation the hard way.<br>Man are being arrested and questioned , if they show up at checkpoints, and road blocks seal the valley from Georgia as well as Chechnya.<br>Georgian locals are  close with Chechens and don't want to cooperate with Russian secret police, who they see as their enemy, but the many soldiers from Tbilisi are in control of the area.<br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border, dec 2002
Sarpath, doesn't speak much about losing his eye, he only says he'd give the other eye too, if it will help Chechnya.<br>-----------------------------------<br>During some period , Chechens have been using the Georgian area of the Pankisi valley as a fall back base for their war inside Chechnya, training  recrutes and medical assistance were all possible because the Georgian government was not able to control the area.<br>Since a few month's things have chanced, because Russian pressure forced the Georgian Government to take steps with Russia's assistance.<br>After this decision life has totally changed for the remaining Chechens, many fighters have left into Chechnya, others hide and the thousands of refugees from Chechnya who are still there, experience the Russian/Georgian cooperation the hard way, but with remarkable strength they live on.<br>Man are being arrested and questioned , if they show up at checkpoints, and road blocks seal the valley from Georgia as well as Chechnya.<br>Georgian locals are close with Chechen culture and don't want to cooperate with Russian secret police, who they see as their common enemy, but the many soldiers from Tbilisi are in control of the area.<br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border, dec 2002
Chechens  try to avoid the official roads because of the many checkpoint and problems they experience.<br>-------------------------------------------------------------------<br>During some period , Chechens have been using the Georgian area of the Pankisi valley as a fall back base for their war inside Chechnya, training  recrutes and medical assistance were all possible because the Georgian government was not able to control the area.<br>Since a few month's things have chanced, because Russian pressure forced the Georgian Government to take steps with Russia's assistance.<br>After this decision life has totally changed for the remaining Chechens, many fighters have left into Chechnya, others hide and the thousands of refugees from Chechnya who are still there, experience the Russian/Georgian cooperation the hard way, but with remarkable strength they live on.<br>Man are being arrested and questioned , if they show up at checkpoints, and road blocks seal the valley from Georgia as well as Chechnya.<br>Georgian locals are close with Chechen culture and don't want to cooperate with Russian secret police, who they see as their common enemy, but the many soldiers from Tbilisi are in control of the area.<br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border,dec 2002
Chechen refugees in the Pankisi George valley close to Chechnya's border, are preparing for the wintertime without many sources,they recieved an transformator to get electricity, but 150 mtrs of groundcable is needed to connect it and nobody can afford this.<br>---------------------------------------------------<br>During some period , Chechens have been using the Georgian area of the Pankisi valley as a fall back base for their war inside Chechnya, training  recrutes and medical assistance were all possible because the Georgian government was not able to control the area.<br>Since a few month's things have chanced, because Russian pressure forced the Georgian Government to take steps with Russia's assistance.<br>After this decision life has totally changed for the remaining Chechens, many fighters have left into Chechnya, others hide and the thousands of refugees from Chechnya who are still there, experience the Russian/Georgian cooperation the hard way, but with remarkable strength they live on.<br>Man are being arrested and questioned , if they show up at checkpoints, and road blocks seal the valley from Georgia as well as Chechnya.<br>Georgian locals are close with Chechen culture and don't want to cooperate with Russian secret police, who they see as their common enemy, but the many soldiers from Tbilisi are in control of the area.<br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border,dec 2002
Mosour(8) and his sister Maka(6), play in their 2x4meter appartment, the toilets are 100 mtrs away an so is water.<br>Mosour wants to be a fighter and Maka just want to play.<br>-------------------------------------------------<br>During some period , Chechens have been using the Georgian area of the Pankisi valley as a fall back base for their war inside Chechnya, training  recrutes and medical assistance were all possible because the Georgian government was not able to control the area.<br>Since a few month's this has chanced, because Russian pressure forced the Georgian Government to take steps with Russia's assistance.<br>After this decision life has totally changed for the Chechens, most fighters have left and the thousands of refugees from Chechnya who are still there, experience the Russian/Georgian cooperation the hard way.<br>Man are being arrested and questioned , if they show up at checkpoints, and road blocks seal the valley from Georgia as well as Chechnya.<br>Georgian locals are  close with Chechens and don't want to cooperate with Russian secret police, who they see as their enemy, but the many soldiers from Tbilisi are in control of the area.<br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border
North of Duisi, the Pankisi capital, Chechen youngsters hang around, waiting for the situation to chance.<br>----------------------------------------------------<br>During some period , Chechens have been using the Georgian area of the Pankisi valley as a fall back base for their war inside Chechnya, training  recrutes and medical assistance were all possible because the Georgian government was not able to control the area.<br>Since a few month's things have chanced, because Russian pressure forced the Georgian Government to take steps with Russia's assistance.<br>After this decision life has totally changed for the remaining Chechens, many fighters have left into Chechnya, others hide and the thousands of refugees from Chechnya who are still there, experience the Russian/Georgian cooperation the hard way, but with remarkable strength they live on.<br>Man are being arrested and questioned , if they show up at checkpoints, and road blocks seal the valley from Georgia as well as Chechnya.<br>Georgian locals are close with Chechen culture and don't want to cooperate with Russian secret police, who they see as their common enemy, but the many soldiers from Tbilisi are in control of the area.<br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border,dec 2002
Short before the evening military clock, Chechen and Georgians speak about the current situation and the constant pressure from Russians to enter the region with military force.<br>Although from a different country, the local Georgians have many things in common with the Chechens and so is their sympathy.<br>--------------------------------------------------------------<br>During some period , Chechens have been using the Georgian area of the Pankisi valley as a fall back base for their war inside Chechnya, training  recrutes and medical assistance were all possible because the Georgian government was not able to control the area.<br>Since a few month's things have chanced, because Russian pressure forced the Georgian Government to take steps with Russia's assistance.<br>After this decision life has totally changed for the remaining Chechens, many fighters have left into Chechnya, others hide and the thousands of refugees from Chechnya who are still there, experience the Russian/Georgian cooperation the hard way, but with remarkable strength they live on.<br>Man are being arrested and questioned , if they show up at checkpoints, and road blocks seal the valley from Georgia as well as Chechnya.<br>Georgian locals are close with Chechen culture and don't want to cooperate with Russian secret police, who they see as their common enemy, but the many soldiers from Tbilisi are in control of the area.<br>
pankisi region, Georgian/Chechen border, dec 2002
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