President Ramzan Kadyrov thinks Chechnya is getting a bum rap.
Western news reports present it as a dangerous, inscrutable enigma where kidnappings, bride-nappings, blood feuds, and political assassinations are the norm.
"Our compatriots and citizens abroad will finally be able to receive reliable firsthand information about the situation in the republic," Kadyrov said after a meeting on November 7 with Shamsail Saraliyev, his minister for external relations, ethnic policy, information and media.
Kadyrov and Saraliyev announced that to repair Chechnya's image problem, a new 24-hour satellite television station will be launched in December 20. The channel, called "Grozny," will reach Russia, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Now if they could just do something to stop all those kidnappings and political assassinations -- many of which critics say are carried out by armed militias under Kadyrov's control -- it would really improve Chechnya's image.
Western news reports present it as a dangerous, inscrutable enigma where kidnappings, bride-nappings, blood feuds, and political assassinations are the norm.
"Our compatriots and citizens abroad will finally be able to receive reliable firsthand information about the situation in the republic," Kadyrov said after a meeting on November 7 with Shamsail Saraliyev, his minister for external relations, ethnic policy, information and media.
Kadyrov and Saraliyev announced that to repair Chechnya's image problem, a new 24-hour satellite television station will be launched in December 20. The channel, called "Grozny," will reach Russia, Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Now if they could just do something to stop all those kidnappings and political assassinations -- many of which critics say are carried out by armed militias under Kadyrov's control -- it would really improve Chechnya's image.