Republics,
and especially throughout the Caucasus Region, sacrificed many elderly
who found themselves especially vulnerable and unprotected from military
violence. Many of them lost their family members, their houses and
social status and became the unwanted guests on their own territories.
Others fled to the neighboring countries to rebuild their lives at an
old age. The number of elderly casualties is high even today, in 2004,
though the formal wars are over. Many older persons die as a
result of occasional shootings or bomb explosions in the former conflict
zones or because of social hardships and other overwhelming challenges. Articles
Russia: In Caucasus, Frozen Conflicts Are Still Hot (September 13, 2004)
Disputes stoked after the Soviet breakup continue to wreak misery and instability years later. More than 1 million people are living in the conditions of frozen ethnic and land conflicts across the territory of the former Soviet Union On a path that connects Caspian oil supplies to oil hungry Western Europe and US users along the border areas with Russia, the frozen conflicts mask international intrigue over natural resources. . Tusya Galoyeva, a 64-year-old native of the South Ossetian village of Gory, who fled to Gizel (“the temporary place”) during the war in 1991 still misses her beautiful, three-story house. Does Tusya know that the leadership of powerful countries who struggle over scarce oil energy resources have no interest in her desire for happiness?
Chechnya: Kremlin Choice Wins in Chechnya Election (August 30, 2004)
August 29 was an important day in the history Chechnya, the rebel Southern region of Russia. On that day Chechens voted in a tense election for a successor to the
assassinated president in a tense election. The voters, with a high representation of older persons, turned out despite of security threats and lack of a real choice. All signs pointed to victory for the Kremlin-backed candidate, Maj. Gen. Alu Alkhanov, but many doubt that he will manage to stamp out rebellion in this turbulent region. However, the elderly voters said they are voting for the hope for peace.
Georgia: Fighting Continues In South Ossetia (August 17, 2004)
It has been several days now since Georgian peacekeepers and South Ossetian militants are exchanging intensive fire that has resulted in casualties from both sides. Since early 1990s South Ossetia has been a breakaway region of Georgia. The new President of Georgia who already has a success story of another breakaway region has vowed to bring South Ossetia, historically part of Georgia, under central authority. Most of the children of both Georgian and Ossetian origin have already been evacuated from the conflict zone. Old people have stayed to live in fear.
Uzbekistan: Dad of 4 Alleged Uzbek Terrorists Worried (August 3, 2004)
Several days ago suicide bombers struck the U.S. and Israeli Embassies along with the top Prosecutor's Office in nearly simultaneous attacks in the capital of Uzbekistan, Former Soviet Union Republic and a close U.S. ally in the war on terror. Two of 64 year-old Qasym Yosupov's sons are dead and two on jail all accused of being key members of the extremist group behind the attacks. With claims of torture and hiding prisoners from the International Red Cross, it's difficult to know whether to believe the "confessions."
Georgia: Tragedy of a One-handed Elderly Hero: "I Often Share the Alms with the People that Need it More Than I Do" (June 24, 2004)
The elderly beggar who lost his right hand in the war ten years ago has not lost his humanity and compassion toward people. He shares the alms with other needy people and speaks about his tragic life.
Chechnya: Guerrilla Raids Force Chechen Refugees to Flee Again (June 28, 2004)
The recent terrorist attack in Ingushetia, south of Russia where the majority of Chechen refugees reside, was followed by their recurrent exodus. These refugees, mostly elderly and children, were of accused of collision with the Chechen terrorists.
Chechnya: In a Ruined City (June 1, 2004)
Read about regrettable plight of the elderly in the capital city of Grozny, Chechnya, Russia. The biggest challenge these people face is to survive both socially and physically and on their own. To earn money for food, they sell bricks from the ruins at three cents each.
Interview with Babak Abbaszadeh, Médecins Sans Frontières Medical Doctor in
Abkhazia, Georgia (April 2, 2004)
Babak Abbaszadeh, a Medical Doctor graduated from Teheran Azad Medical University spent six months in Georgia and seven months in Abkhasia with Médecins sans Frontières, France. His mission was to give primary health care to women, children and old people in need, due to the conflict situation in the region.
Interview with Henry
Debussmann, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) volunteer to Abkhazia, Georgia, with GAA intern Eka Paresashvili (March 5, 2004)
From September 2003 until March 2004, Henry Debusmann, a Médecins sans
Frontières volunteer, worked as logistician in Abkhasia, a formerly
autonomous republic under the Soviet Union and now one of the lingering
troubled areas in the Region. Henry's
work supported the activities of the Doctors without Borders health
personnel who have provided primary health care since 1999.
Translation of the Article Written by Gocha Bakhia Posted on the Web Site - Independent Web Edition ECHO
(February 20, 2004)
Three thousand street vendors, many of them elderly Internally Displaced Persons from
Abkhazia (the conflict zone in the northwest of the Republic of
Georgia), protested in front of the State Chancellery of Georgia.
At
Least 20 People Killed in a Bomb Blast in Chechnya (May 14, 2003)
A female terrorist blew
herself up in a crowd of people gathered for a religious celebration in
Checnya's capital city - Grozny. Most of the victims were elderly.
Chechnya: Everyday Life in Chechnya: University Professor Beaten, his Sons Abducted (March 18, 2003)
While President Putin gives a rosy picture of the situation in Chechnya, federal troops continue to take Chechen men hostage. At 2 am., Russian soldiers burst into Umalt Ezhayev's house, a war veteran and professor in pedagogics who received the title of Honored Teacher of the Russian Federation. After the elderly men asked them what was the purpose of their visit, the soldiers beat him seriously up until he was unconscious. They took away his two sons and there is very little hope that Mr. Ezhayev will ever see them again.
