Chechnya (Ichkeria) and the problem of the Caucasus

Who are the Chechens? A Caucasian mountain people not related to the Russians Religion: Sufi Islam Mostly inhabitants of the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation Approx 1,350,000 Chechens +400,000 Russians

Why part of Russia? Gradual expansion of Russian Empire as Ottoman Empire and Persia declined. 1801 Georgia annexed by Russia War with Chechens continued until 1859, when the leader Shamil (1797- 1871) was captured, Chechnya finally subdued.

Chechens in the 20th Century Several revolts against Russian/Soviet control 23 February 1944 Mass deportation to Kazakhstan on Stalin’s orders. Chechens replaced with Russian population (Other deported nationalities: Volga Germans, Crimean Tartars) 1956 Khrushchev allows Chechens to return to Chechnya

1991 Chechen Independence Former Soviet general Dzhokhar Dudaev declares independence of Republic of Ichkeria (Chechnya) 1994 Terrorist acts outside Chechnya in Mineralnye vody November 1994 Eltsin orders Russian troops to establish control over Chechnya 14-19 June 1995 Budyonnovsk Hospital crisis: 1500 hostages taken by group commanded by Shamil Basayev

1994-1996 First Chechen War Russian troops take huge losses trying to capture Grozny 21 April 1996 Dudaev killed by Russian missile while talking on cellphone August 1996 Alexander Lebedev, representing Russian Federation, signs treaty with separatists, giving Chechnya de facto independence, but leaving official status open The Devastation in Grozny

1996-1999 Chechen chaos 1997 Aslan Maskhadov elected President of Chechnya Battles between different warring factions inside Chechnya Shamil Basayev (right) leads raids into other regions of Russian Federation, esp. neighbouring Dagestan Seeks a caliphate in the South of Russia from the Caspian to the Black Sea.

2nd Chechen War 7 August – 14 September 1999 Basayev leads Chechen incursions into Dagestan 9 August 1999 Boris Eltsin names Vladimir Putin Prime Minister. Putin’s famous remark: “we’ll squash them in the outhouse.” 25 August Russian air-force bombards positions in Chechnya 4-16 September: explosions in apartment buildings in Moscow and elsewhere, claimed by Basayev 23 September Russian air bombardment of Grozny begins 30 September Russian armored units enter Chechnya

Chechnya during the war Chechen groups under Basayev respond to Russian invasion with acts of terror 23-26 September 2002 terrorist act in Moscow in Theatre on the Dubrovka: 44 terrorists and 129 hostages killed 1-3 September 2004 inBeslan, Northern Ossetia massacre over 350 killed. 8 March 2005 Aslan Maskhadov killed. 10 July 2006 Basayev killed.

Khattab b. Saudi Arabia Arab father and Circassian mother Fought for mujahideen in Chechen wars Associate of Basayev 1998 began incursions into Dagestan Killed in March 2002

Chechnya post-war 5 October 2003 Imam Akhmat Kadyrov elected President of Chechnya 9 May 2004 killed at football stadium; Basayev claims responsibility 2007 Ramzat Kadyrov (b. 1976) elected president of Chechen Republic Kadyrov takes strongly pro- Islam position

Chechnya Today 2009 State of Emergency lifted Kadyrov’s policy of autonomy within the RF Muslim values reinforced Builds “one of largest mosques in Europe” named after father

New Initiatives in North Caucasus 2010 New Administrative District of N. Caucasus created Presidential representative Aleksandr Khloponin given task of reviving economy Sochi Olympics as part of larger plan to develop economy of N. Caucasus region Further reading: Russian Analytical Digest, #70

Terror in Russia Today 24 January 2011 Domodedovo airport, Moscow Explosion by a suicide bomber in the arrivals hall of the airport 37 killed 113 hospitalized Terrorists from Ingushetia blamed for the blast. Responsibility claimed by Doku Umarov, “4th President of Chechen Republic and 1st emir of the North Caucasian Emirate.”

Questions Why does the RF not want Chechnya to be independent? Is it realistic to expect Chechnya to become a democracy of the Western type? Can the RF hold onto the Muslim areas of the country? What will the future configuration of the Caucasus be?