The Situation in Chechnya

Chechnya, a Russian republic in the Caucasus region, has been in nearly constant conflict since the 17th century (GlobalIssues) with sources such as the New York Times even terming it “the most troubled region in the former Soviet Union.” The region has suffered greatly over the last hundred years and still continues to seek the ultimate goal of full independence from Russia. Despite having briefly gained this independence following the Russian Revolution, Chechnya was retaken by the USSR in 1922. In World War II, Stalin, fearing Chechen collaboration with the Nazis, responded with a mass deportation of Chechens to nearby Siberia and Central Asia. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Chechnya entered into its first Civil War. As rebel forces fought for independence from Russia, Russian forces attempted to establish effective and permanent rule over the particularly mountainous regions. During this First Chechen War though, guerilla forces outran the Russian military and no territory was reclaimed by the Russian state, a loss that is still considered an embarrassment to the Russian military, even today. In 1999, the Second Chechen War broke out as Chechen fighters attempted to create an independent Islamic state to encompass parts of Chechnya and neighboring Dagestan. The war resulted in the bombings of homes in Moscow and other large cities throughout the region but Russian troops were successful in ending the rebellion in a matter of weeks. After more than ten years of war, the Russian forces finally regained control of many areas of Chechnya.

However, despite Russian military successes in ending the rebellion, the tension between Russia and Georgia continued to escalate, causing a potential threat to the region. In 2000, over 7,000 Chechen refugees sought housing and refuge in Georgia, further escalating stress throughout the area. Furthermore, Chechnya was involved in a Russian spy accusation in 2008, in which the Russian Federal Security Service cited Georgian support of militant action throughout Chechnya as a source of increased conflict between Russia and Georgia. These events indicate the potential for the conflict in Chechnya to create shock waves felt outside of Russia’s borders. In late 2009, Amnesty International released numerous reports of human rights violations in the area, causing some members of the international community to question Russia’s true intentions regarding the Republic of Chechnya. Chechnya is also of particular importance due to the area’s massive oil reserves, which Russia maintains an interest in controlling. Today, Chechnya’s population is predominately Muslim and a strong separatist movement has developed into a powerful Islamic insurgency. In October of 2010, three people and dozens were injured as attackers stormed the Chechen Parliament in Grozny. Now, attacks continue almost daily, often targeting political figures and police officers, as Chechen’s continue the fight for their full independence from Russia. Moreover, Chechnya’s neighbors Abkhazia and South Ossetia are now recognized as partially independent by the international community and are fully acknowledged by Russia in particular as their own states. The conflict in Chechnya thus poses a large threat to this region overall, as newly developed nations may suffer the burden of Chechen fighting in addition to the task of reestablishing themselves as independent nations.