CHECHNYA: GROZNY: INTERNET CONNECTION IS SET UP

(27 Jan 1997) English/Nat Presidential elections in Chechnya are not the only step the tiny breakaway region is taking towards rebuilding. Cut off from the world for nearly two years during its fight for independence from Moscow, Chechnya is now doing its best to make contact with the West via the Internet. One Chechen fighter who studied in the United States has put the republic on-line in a bid to help it on the road to independence. Chechnya may be in ruins, but even here you can find the Internet. The two-year war with Russia has levelled much of the republic’s infrastructure. But despite this, a satellite dish is now up and running in downtown Grozny, providing Chechens with a link to the outside world. Before the war Emil Shamilov was a student in the United States. He abruptly ended his studies to return home and fight for Chechnya’s independence. After battling it out on the streets of Grozny, Emil has now set himself the task of recovering information lost in the war and helping Chechnya catch up with the modern world. SOUNDBITE: (English) “I think the most difficult part of what we have to do is over. Now my personal plan in Chechnya is to help develop the Internet network and to get the Internet installed into academic institutions.“ SUPER CAPTION: Emil Shamilov, ex-fighter and head of Grozny Internet office Emil says he put Grozny on-line to give Chechens access to information otherwise not available in the devastated republic. With the city’s universities levelled by bombs and its libraries in ashes, the Internet may bring back some of what has been lost. But it also has a political use. A leading candidate in Monday’s presidential elections is rebel field commander Shamil Basayev. Basayev is said to use the Internet to study other governments and their armies. Emil believes he is the only candidate who can get Chechnya back on its feet. He claims Basayev is the most forward-looking candidate, and one who can put the country on-line as well as in line. SOUNDBITE: (English) “If a young guy like Basayev comes to power he knows the usefulness of the Internet. And I think it will have a great future in the republic. If someone a little bit older will come to power I think it will still have a future in Chechnya but not as soon as it could have been.“ SUPER CAPTION: Emil Shamilov, ex-fighter and head of Grozny Internet office After casting his ballot, Emil returns to his home in Grozny for the traditional evening feast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. His whole family supports Basayev, despite the fact that a Basayev presidency is likely to bring more trouble with Russia. Emil says he has no regrets about leaving the United States to return to the battlefields of Chechnya. Despite the hardships in the struggling republic, he believes his future is here. The presidential elections are being seen as the first step for Chechnya on the long road to recovery. Emil hopes that his contribution -- the Internet -- will make that road a bit shorter. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: