Chechnya

Conflict in Chechnya The current political scene in Russia and the conflict in Chechnya date back to the events of In some former socialist countries the challenge to the Kremlin’s authority brought the collapse of communist party dictatorships followed by democratization (Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland)  formidable intelligentsias, popular revolutionary challenges had been rehearsed (1956, 1968, early1980s), common European identity/EU aspirations

Russia

perestroika Gorbachev’s perestroika reforms in 1985 shook up bureaucratic apparatus of the Soviet Union by liberating the press and introducing competitive elections Popular anti-bureaucratic agitation peaks in 1989  candidates in 1989 parliamentary election distance themselves from ruling elite Dissident intellectuals lack knowledge to run Soviet economy (consisting of large industrial enterprises)  The planned economy was falling apart at the seams  revolutionary situation of at a stalemate

Boris Yeltsin 1991: Yegor Gaidar convinced the new Russian president, Boris Yeltsin, to employ “shock therapy” and dissolve the Soviet Union  by 1993 the backlash to policies was intense  small group of very wealthy Russians gained control over key industries Yeltsin faced with unpopular economic policies felt that a small war might lend his regime a veneer of imperial splendor and patriotism October 1993: fierce rioting in downtown Moscow put down by tank fire  Yeltsin fires neoliberal advisors  surrounds himself with “simple tough guys” like General Alexander Korzhakov

Factors contributing to war in Chechnya Historical legacies Geopolitics Political instability Islam Organized crime

Chechnya’s geography Small  most of the fighting today is taking place in an area 40x70 miles Varied landscape: snow-capped mountains, densely populated valleys, steppe plains, semi-arid desert Chechen language has no surviving relatives in the modern world No prior history of state organization: armed populations, small economic surpluses cannot be appropriated through taxes  clans play key role in structuring social interactions

Early 1800s Russian Empire descends on the clan societies of the North Caucasus region  “small rock” on the road to Persia and India In 1818 Russian general Aleksei Yermolov built a fortress in Chechnya and called in Grozny (Fort Terrifying)  Chechens tried to burn the fort and we met with artillery fire  Jihad was launched against the Russian soldiers  The Caucasus war left an indelible imprint on Russia/Russian culture

Islam in the 19 th century Islam provided a key mechanism required by a rebellion: A powerful unifying ideology By 1859 the Russian side offered very comfortable terms to Chechens, the leaders of the rebellion were even given generous pensions by the tsar  the peoples of the North Caucasus region were granted substantial autonomy

1917: The Bolshevik revolution Chechens join with Red Army to rise against “imperial domination” Reds promised to restore land to Chechen peasants  Chechens dealt severe blow to White army in 1919 The early Bolshevik transformation produced a new group of modern-educated Chechen specialists and improved overall quality of life (public works, free healthcare and education)

Chechens resisted forced collectivization

1942

While a majority of Chechens fight against Nazis some escaped back to their villages and some joined the Germans  1944 one year after the Germans retreat from the North Caucasus Stalin orders wholesale deportation of Chechens and neighboring peoples (500,000 people)  25%-33% die on long journey to Central Asia

1957 Khrushchev allows Chechens to return from exile The Chechen revolutions in 1991 above all sought to eradicate the humiliations and injustices of the Soviet period

1991 The Chechen revolution was directly inspired by analogous pro-independence movements in the Baltic republics (roughly same size, distinct ethnic characteristics) General Dzhokhar Dudayev, who until 1991 served as the commander of a Soviet Strategic Air Force wing, left the military and became a revolutionary leader  convinced of Chechnya’s potential wealth and geopolitical

1991 Dzhokhar Dudayev

Russian fears Soviet Union contains 15 republics (such as Estonia, Ukrain, Russia—all can theoretically leave the union) Russia itself contains lesser-status autonomous republics and provinces like Chechnya  Moscow afraid of “nightmare domino effect” Moscow proclaims Chechen independence unconstitutional but is suffering from domestic turmoil (shock therapy induced recession, riots) and is not in a position to deal with Dudayev’s regime  for two years (1992 and 1993) Chechnya is caught in limbo

Yeltsin, after the failures of the previous two years, desired a decisive victory  advisors predicted a small war Volunteers spill into Grozny  guns widely available  small mobile units organized according to plan formulated by Aslan Maskhadov (former Russian army artillery colonel)  spectacular slaughter of Russian forces

“One paratroop regiment in two hours” Aslan Maskhadov

Chechnya becomes in effect an independent state The last Russian forces withdraw Chechnya becomes in effect an independent state Aslan Maskhadov is elected president—wartime hero Shamil Basayev appointed prime minister Chechen fighters never demobilized Basayev proves to be incompetent in his civilian job  quits his post and becomes the opposition (attracting hundreds of former fighters) Basayev uses Islam as an ideological banner: only way to overcome foreign domination and establish moral order  Osama bin Laden provides funding and inspiration

1996 Shamil Basayev

1997 Chechnya plunged into chaos Maskhadov implements sharia law

1999 Chechnya is state of total war Vladimir Putin becomes President of Russian Republic  launches ferocious war on Chechen terrorists

1999