Calling the kidnappings "an invisible war," he added that they could be stopped only "by recognizing the Chechen republic as an independent state."

"The most important task for me next year is to restore peace and normal life in the Chechen republic," he said.

As recently as March, the foreign minister of the Chechen republic was allowed to meet officials at the State Department.

Who will come and run the Chechen republic?

The Chechen republic is still standing.

He met with a small group of reporters at a checkpoint at the border between the Chechen republic and Ingushetia.

On April 29, an amnesty was announced to mark the proclamation of the independence of the Chechen republic.

Russian troops entered the Chechen republic in December to put down the secessionist movement there.

A European human rights body has described the situation in Russia's Chechen republic as critical (21 April 2008)

To be sure, there are serious threats to American security and the fate of the Chechen republic is not one of them.