CHECHNYA:The ins and outs ofa Caucasian crisis

Joshua Gulch5 May 2006

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Overview

What’s a Chechnya? Geography. A history in brief. Russo-Chechen Wars. Shamil Baseyev. War atrocities. Where to now?

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What’s a Chechnya?

And how can I use it?

Republic of Chechnya is located within Russia’s southern Caucasus region.

Local name: Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Capital: Grozny (means “terrible”). President (Chechnya): Alu Dadashevich Alkhanov. President (Ichkeria): Abdul-Halim Sadulaev. Religion: Predominantly Sunni Muslim. Ethnic Russians comprise 23% of the population.

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Geography

Caucasus region is in southwestern Russia. Chechnya bordered by Ingushetia, Dagestan,

and the independent Republic of Georgia.

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Map of Chechnya

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A History in Brief

Russo-Chechen relations begin when city of Tarki is established by Ivan the Terrible in 1559.

Russia began absorbing Caucasus in 1780s under Catherine the Great. Chechen lands reached under Nicholas I by 1830 and was met with fierce resistance.

Imam Shamil (1797-1871), organized resistance and introduced guerrilla tactics. Captured in 1859 and forced to swear allegiance to the Tsar, ending the war. Shamil is still revered as a great hero of the Chechen people.

Caucasus falls under complete Russian authority.

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More History (not so brief after all)

Chechen Autonomous Soviet Republic created 1936. Chechen population exiled by Stalin in World War II.

One quarter died during the move to Kazakhstan. Allowed to return by Khrushchev in 1957. 11 March 1990: Lithuania declares independence

from Soviet Union. Other Soviet republics follow suit. Soviet Union

disbanded, with many former republics gaining independence.

Chechnya lobbies for independence. Russia responds with force.

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The Russo-Chechen War The First War (1994-1996)

Dzhokar Dudayev replaces pro-Moscow government and assumes presidency of Chechnya.

Chechen declaration of independence prompts Yeltsin to dispatch 40,000 troops to retake control.

Chechens resort to partisan tactics against Russians. Dudayev killed in missile attack and succeeded by

Aslan Maskhadov. Yeltsin and Maskhadov sign cease-fire agreement. Casualties: Somewhere from 14,000-200,000, of

which 5,500-14,000 were Russian loses.

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Presidential Palace, Grozny

(January 1995)

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The Russo-Chechen War The Second War (1999-Present)

Despite 1996 treaty, attacks continued, prompting Yeltsin to order troops back into Chechnya.

Fighting has carried into Dagestan and Georgia. Grozny all but leveled by Russian bombardment. Yeltsin replaced by Putin, who stepped up war effort. Guerrilla tactics return against Russian troops. Maskhadov assassinated 8 March 2005. Major fighting lessened since 2002, but war continues

to this day.

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Grozny (Before)

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Grozny (After)

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Downtown Grozny

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Shamil Baseyev

The thorn in President Putin’s side. “A bad guy, a bandit, and a terrorist” – Himself. Although associated on and off with the separatist

government, tends to operate on his own personal agenda.

Leader of most large Chechen terrorist actions. Responsible for plane hijackings, bombings, Moscow

Theater and Beslan School hostages. Maskhadov distanced himself from Baseyev’s actions.

Continues to carry out attacks. As of March 2006 being hunted by 3,000 Russian police officers.

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More Baseyev

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War Atrocities Suicide attacks

Looting

Abductions

Hostages

Torture

Executions

Rape

Pits

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Notable Events

Budyonnovsk Hospital (14 June 1995). Baseyev takes over 1,500 hostages in hospital after seizing town

hall and police station. Led to first war’s cease-fire.

Apartment bombings (August/September 1999). Evidence of FSB involvement and Chechen scapegoating.

Moscow Theater (23 October 2002). 42 gunmen took 700 persons hostage for over two days.

Beslan School (1 September 2004). 32 gunmen took 1,300 hostages in school for three days.

Maskhadov denounced this attack.

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What’s so Important?

Chechnya offers Russia:

Fear of other republics following Chechen example.

Rich oil fields in the region.

Convenient access to Black Sea and Middle East.

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Effects of War

Cemented Putin’s position of power. Strong militant stance against Chechen conflict.

Rise of racism. Greater violence in Russia towards non-Russian archtypes.

“Chechen Syndrome.” Suffered by Russian soldiers returning from Chechnya. Soldiers desensitized and accustomed to war have trouble

readapting to society upon returning home. Increased cases of domestic abuse and police brutality. Permanent trauma affecting entire Chechen generations.

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International Outlook

Limited support from Afghanistan, particularly during the Taliban regime. Much less since their downfall.

Much concern from European Union. Denounced Russia’s use of torture and prisoner abuse. Close monitoring of all elections in Chechnya for fraud. Demanded, along with U.S., end of Putin’s January 2000 ultimatum

that any Chechens left in the territory would be killed. Has agreed to try cases by Chechens against Russian government.

The United States has shown little support for the war, and has denounced it on occasion. Offered assistance to Georgia to combat fighting that has

overflowed from neighboring Chechnya.

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International Outlook II

United Nations has taken anti-torture actions. April 2000: Russia must form an inquiry to investigate crimes

that have occurred during war in Chechnya. February 2006: Unsatisfied with Russia’s efforts to

investigate these crimes, the UN forms its own group to carry out the investigation.

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Where to Now?

Predictions:

Russia unlikely to grant Chechnya independence. Chechnya unlikely to give up and accept governance

from Moscow. Change unlikely to occur by Putin’s decisions. Chechen rejection of “Russification,” and continued

adoption of Shari’a law, against Russian secularism. Russo-Chechen conflict a war of attrition.

Will continue until one side cannot fight any longer.

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Final Thoughts

Entirely rhetorical:

Is Chechnya worth keeping as part of Russia?

While Chechen independence is a noble thing, how badly is it being hurt by terrorist activities?

Do the Chechens have a right to declare independence?

Does Russia have a right to enforce their control?

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Finis

The End