Chechnya

From Wikinfo

[[fr:Tch�tch�ne]] [[nl:Tsjetsjeni�]]

The Chechen Republic (Russian: Чеченская республика) is a republic of Russian Federation. Bordering Stavropol' Territory to the northwest, the republic of Dagestan to the northeast and east, Georgia to the south, and the republic of Ingushetia to the west, it is located in Northern Caucasus mountains, in the Southern Federal District.

After the demise of the Soviet Union, the group of politics declared themselves a new parliament and declared independence as the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. As for 2003, the independence is not recognized by any state; however this declaration caused war conflicts in which several rival Chechen groups and the Federal army was involved, resulted in more than 38,000 deaths in the period of 1991-2002. On 2003, Federals still do not have full control on the republic.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Post-Soviet History 1.2 First Chechen War: 1994-1996 1.3 Second Chechen War: 1999-Present 1.4 Suicide Attack on pro-Moscow Government Headquarters 2 Politics 3 Administrative division 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 External links 8 Further reading 8.1 References

History

Main article: History of Chechnya

Chechen society has traditionally been organized around many autonomous local clans, called teips. Even today, many Chechens consider themselves loyal to their teip above all, one reason why it has been difficult to forge a united political front against Russia.

Imperial Russian forces began moving into Chechnya in 1830 to secure Russia's borders with the Ottoman Empire. The Chechens resisted fiercely, led by national hero [[Imam S<caron>amil]], but Chechnya was finally incorporated into the Russian Empire in 1859.

The Chechnya-Ingushetia region received status of an autonomous republic within the Soviet Union in 1936. During World War II, the Soviet government accused the Chechens of cooperating with the Nazi invaders. On orders from Stalin, the entire population of the republic was exiled to Kazakhstan. Over a quarter died. The Chechens were allowed to return only in 1957, four years after Stalin's death in 1953.

Post-Soviet History

After the demise of the Soviet Union, the situation in Chechnya became unclear. Below is the chronology of that time:

• During the Soviet era, there was the Checheno-Ingushkaja ASSR, consisting of Chechnja and Ingushetija. In 1990 it was renamed to the Checheno-Ingushkaja Respublika (Chechen-Ingush Republic).
• On September 1, 1991 some chechen politicians formed the "National Congress of Chechen People", declared that part of the Chechen-Ingush Republic became an independent state of the Chechen Republic and stated that supreme power is given to the Executive Committee lead by Dzhokhar Dudaev.
• On September 2, 1991 a group of religious and public figures made a petition, claiming that Executive Committee is not legitimate and that actions of the Committee might inevitably lead to bloodshed.
• On September 6, 1991 the building of the Supreme Soviet was occupied by the Dzhokhar Dudaev's guards.
• On September 15, 1991, a last session of the Supreme Soviet of the Chechen-Ingush Republic took place, and it decided to dissolve itself (under requests of Dudaev's guards).
• On October 1, 1991 some of the ex-deputies decided to divide the republic into the Chechen Republic and the Ingush Republic.
• On October 27, 1991, an inofficial election was held. Less than 20% (probably 12%) of the population participated, and Dzhokhar Dudaev was elected. Many false ballots were made, so the number of ballots significantly exceeded number of registered voters.
• On November 1, 1991 Dudaev issued a decree of Chechen independence (Указ об "Об объявлении суверенитета Чеченской Республики с 1 ноября 1991 г.")
• On November 2, 1991, the 5th Assembly of People's Deputies of RSFSR (the Russian parliament of that time) took place. A resolution was issued stating that the Chechen Supreme Soviet and President are not legitimate.
• On May, 1993 Chechen parliament and Muftiat (Islamic high council) made an appeal to the Chechen people to defend the old constitution and restore legitimate power. The decision of the Chechen constitutional court was that Dudaev�s actions are illegal.

The civil war then started. The Russian Federal government refused to recognize Chechen independence and made several attempts to take full control of the territory of the Chechen Republic. The Federal government supported a failed coup designed to overthrow Dudayev in 1994. There were two invasions involving the Federal army known as the two Chechen Wars.

As a background, many ethnic minorities exist in the Russian Federation alongside a predominately Russian culture, and commentators speculate that if Russia permits Chechen independence, then other groups might also push for independence.

First Chechen War: 1994-1996

Russian federal forces overran Groznyj in November, 1994. Although the forces achieved some initial successes, the federal military made a number of critical strategic blunders during the Chechnya campaign and was widely perceived as incompetent. Led by Aslan Maskhadov, separatists conducted successful guerrilla operations from the mountainous terrain. Russian President Boris Yeltsin declared a unilateral cease-fire in April 1995.

In June, 1995, Chechen guerrillas occupied a hospital in the southern Russian town of Budyonnovsk, taking over 1,000 hostages. Federal forces attempted to storm the hospital twice and failed. The guerrilas were allowed to leave after freeing their hostages.

This incident, televised accounts of Chechen soldiers torturing and executing captured federal soldiers and pro-federal Chechens, and the resulting widespread demoralization of the federal army, led to a federal withdrawal and the beginning of negotiations on March 21, 1996.

Separatist President Dudayev was supposedly killed in a rocket attack on April 21, 1996 (also there are versions that he was killed by his rivals in fight for local power). Negotations on Chechen independence were repeatedly postponed by the federal government due to alleged terrorist attacks, and finally tabled in August, 1996.

Maskhadov was elected President in 1997 (only a minority of the population participated), but was unable to consolidate control as the country devolved into regional bickering among local teip leaders and organized criminal factions.

Second Chechen War: 1999-Present

Renegade separatist Chechen army commanders reportedly financed by Osama bin Laden led a band of soldiers into Dagestan in August, 1999. On September 9, 1999, Chechens were blamed for the bombing of an apartment complex in Moscow and several other unexplained explosions in Russia. Despite a lack of evidence, Russia's new prime minister, Vladimir Putin, ordered forces back into Chechen territory on these pretexts. Currently, most of Chechnya is controlled by the federal military, who have installed a government of pro-federal Chechens into local government offices. Chechens who work in government jobs are very often assassinated by the Chechen separatist forces.

Many Chechen separatists have retreated into Kerigo Gorge in Georgia. Russia accuses the Georgian government of willingly harboring terrorists and demands that the Georgian government take action against the separatists � and Georgia refused this. Several separatists have been detained by Georgian authorities, but Russia claims that these are empty gestures, and has repeatedly warned Georgia that if real measures are not taken soon to control the Chechen separatists, it will invade and control them itself.

Putin announced that the Chechen war had ended in early 2002, but separatist forces still control a large portion of the mountainous southern regions of the country and regularly skirmish with federal troops. Pro-federal Chechens are also regular targets. Federal withdrawal is unlikely.

A prominent terrorist leader named Amir Khattab was killed in Chechnya in March 2002.

The war budget for Chechnya is a tremendous source of personal revenue for various officials, both federal and regional, who skim money designated for equipment and soldiers', teachers�, medics, etc. salaries (during both wars, money was being transferred in belief that they would reach civilian population), and most of the separatist soldiers' weapons are Russian made; a major part was left by the federal army in the early 1990s and a significant part supposedly has been illegally purchased from federal soldiers. For their part, the separatists control a lucrative illegal drug and oil smuggling trade, and routinely kidnap foreign aid workers and others for ransom. There is also strong evidence that local terrorist activity is supported with money and arms from international extremist Muslim terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda.

Both the federal and separatist armies have been widely criticized by human rights groups such as Amnesty International for alleged war crimes committed during the two Chechen wars, including well-documented accusations on both sides of rape, torture, looting, and the murder of civilians.

Colonel Yuri Budanov became the first Russian to be tried on charges of war crimes committed in Chechnya. He was brought to trial in late 2002 on charges of murder and abduction, after being accused of raping and strangling Heda Kungayeva, an 18 year old Chechen girl whom Budanov claims was a separatist sniper. In a controversial decision, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity on December 31, 2002 and committed to a psychiatric hospital for further evaluation and treatment. However, upon further study, it was decided that he understood everything he did, and so was found guilty.

Suicide Attack on pro-Moscow Government Headquarters

At about 2:30 PM local time on December 27, 2002, two car bombs were driven at high speed into the Grozny headquarters of Chechnya's federal-backed government in an apparent suicide attack, killing at least 61 people, injuring at least 76, and destroying the Chechen government administrative building.

The next day, Russian counterterrorism officials accused President Mashkadov of conspiring with Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev and an Arab named Abu al-Walid, said to be a member of a terrorist organization called the Muslim Brotherhood, to plan the attack. Mashkadov issued a statement condemning the attacks and denying any involvement.

According to Russian officials, the vehicles used in the attacks were a large, heavy truck and a smaller Jeep-type vehicle with Russian military license plates. The drivers wore federal military uniforms and carried official passes which allowed them through three successive military checkpoints on their way to the headquarters building. A guard at the fourth and final checkpoint attempted to inspect the vehicles, and began firing on the trucks as they drove through the checkpoint towards the building.

See also: Moscow Theatre Siege

Politics

Main article: Politics of Chechnya

Chechnya is a republic. There are two major powers in the republic.

The first is a pro-federal government. It is based in Grozny and run by pro-Federal Chechens. The President of this government is Akhmad Kadyrov. Rudnik Dudayev is head of the Chechen Security Council.

The other is the separatist government. The president of this government, Aslan Maskhadov, was elected in an internationally monitored election in 1997. Maskhadov left Grozny and moved to the separatist-controlled areas of the south with the onset of the Second Chechen War. President Maskhadov has been unable to influence a number of warlords who retain effective control over Chechen territory. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister is Akhmed Zakayev, appointed by President Maskhadov shortly after the 1997 election. After the theater siege, Russia demanded his extradition from Denmark, and later, the United Kingdom, demands which were denied by those countries on the grounds that he might face the death penalty if returned.

The Federal Russian government refuses to recognize the separatist Chechen government. There are no countries that officially recognize Chechen independence, in order to avoid jeopardizing their diplomatic relationships with Russia and to avoid encouraging separatists inside their own borders. In the past, the independence was recognized by Taliban (however, the Islamic State of Afghanistan has never recognized the independence).

Some territories are or were controlled by regional teips.

Administrative division

File:ChechenRepublicMap.png

Districts:

1. Naurskijj rajjon - Наурский район
2. Shelkovskojj rajjon - Шелковской район
3. Nadterechnyjj rajjon - Надтеречный район
4. Groznenskijj rajjon - Грозненский район
5. Gudermesskijj rajjon - Гудермесский район
6. Sunzhenskijj rajjon - Сунженский район
7. Achkhojj-Martanovskijj rajjon - Ачхой-Мартановский район
8. Urus-Martanovskijj rajjon - Урус-Мартановский район
9. Shalinskijj rajjon - Шалинский район
10. Kurchaloevskijj rajjon - Курчалоевский район
11. Itum-Kalinskijj rajjon - Итум-Калинский район
12. Shatojjskijj rajjon - Шатойский район
13. Vedenskijj rajjon - Веденский район
14. Nozhajj-Jurtovskijj rajjon - Ножай-Юртовский район
15. Sharojjskijj rajjon - Шаройский район

Towns:

1. Znamenskoe - Знаменское
2. Naurskaja - Наурская
3. Achkhojj-Martan - Ачхой-Мартан
4. Urus-Martan - Урус-Мартан
5. Groznyjj city - г.Грозный
6. Shali - Шали
7. Gudermes - Гудермес
8. Shelkovskaja - Шелковская
9. Itum-Shale - Итум-Шале
10. Shatojj - Шатой
11. Vedeno - Ведено
12. Nozhajj-Jurt - Ножай-Юрт

Rivers:

1. Terek - Терек
2. Sunzha - Сунжа
3. Argun - Аргун

Geography

Main article: Geography of Chechnya

• Capital: Groznyj
• Population: 1.3 million
• Area: 19.3 thousand square km
• Other Principal Cities: Gudermes, Argun and [[S<caron>ali]]
• Borders:
  • Inside Russia:
    • Ingushetia
    • North Ossetia
    • Dagestan
  • Foreign:
    • Georgia

Economy

Main article: Economy of Chechnya During the civil war, the Chechen economy fell apart as organized criminal gangs acquired progressively more power. Official Russian Rouble and unofficial US Dollar are used as currency. There are much counterfeit US Dollars printed there; separatists planned to put in circulation a new currency, Nahar, but Federal army prevented them.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Chechnya

• Religion: Sunni Muslim since the 16th to the 18th century.
• Chechen and Russian are used.
• The Chechen language is member of the Caucasian languages group.

External links

• http://chechnya.gov.ru/ - Government of Chechen Republic (Russian)
• Pro-rebel Chechen news
• 46 Die in Chechen Suicide Attack by Sharon LaFraniere. The Washington Post, Saturday, December 28, 2002; Page A01
• Russia Links Arab Millitants to Bombing in Chechnya by Michael Wines. The New York Times, December 28, 2002
• Court Rules Russian Colonel Insane CNN, December 31, 2002
• Almanac �Chechenian Phenomenon� in English and Russian

Further reading

• Russia's Chechen Wars 1994 - 2000: Lessons from Urban Combat, by Olga Oliker. ISBN 0833029983. A strategic and tactical analysis of the Chechen Wars.
  • Significant excerpts are available online for free at http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1289/

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Chechnya" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechnya December 6, 2003