Russia and Chechnya have a complicated relationship. The recent Moscow subway bombings have strained this relationship even further, since Chechen terrorists have claimed responsibility for the incident.
Conflict Chechnya and Terrorist Bombing
On March 29, 2010, Chechen terrorists entered the Moscow underground and stepped aboard two trains which stopped at the center of the Russian capital. The terrorists were young women, referred to as "black widows," who were strapped with explosives. The bombs went off, killing 39 innocent victims, injuring many more and taking the lives of the suicide bombers.
This came as a shock to Russia because prime minister Vladimir Putin had announced a long time ago that Chechen terrorists were wiped out. However, the bombings on March 29 told a different story. Chechen rebels were very much present and well-organized.
Chechnya History
Many people do not realize the Chechen conflict stems from ancient history. Since the eighteenth century, Muslim tribes have lived in the area known as Chechnya. When czarist Russia moved into the region and took it over, separatist Muslim groups began to form. From as early as 1722, the separatists employed guerrilla warfare to fight against Russia for their land.
The fighting raged on for centuries. In the 1850s even famous Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, fought on the Chechen front for czarist Russia, writing about the horrors of war. Despite an attempt to gain back their land in the midst of the confusion of the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Chechen rebels failed and Chechnya was Soviet territory.
Chechnya War
When Stalin took over in the 1930s, he deported the Chechens. Upon Stalin's death, they were allowed to move back to their homeland; however, the Soviets squashed any attempts at building mosques for practicing the Muslim religion. In the 1970s and 80s, Chechens and Russians had an uneasy co-existence and with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Chechyna declared its independence from Russia.
Boris Yeltsin waited until 1994 to invade Chechnya to restore Russia's hold on the country. Thus, the First Chechen War began in December 1994. However, the separatists were mobilized and ready. Shockingly, they defeated the Russian troops by 1996 - a humiliating defeat for Russia.
In 1997, Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov was elected as Chechnya's president. Russia recognized this new government, but did not accept Chechnya's autonomy.
In 1999, then prime minister Vladimir Putin invaded the neighboring country of Dagestan to go after the Chechen rebels. This was the start of the Second Chechen War.
Unfortunately, peace does not seem to be in the near future for these two countries. After the recent subway bombings, it would be no surprise if a third Chechen war were to erupt. In the coming days, it is just a matter of time until Russia responds.
This article, History of Chechen Conflict, discusses the history behind the Second Chechen War.
This article, Eighteenth Century Chechnya History, discusses the beginnings of this Muslim territorial holy war.
Check out the Eastern Europe blog for more articles and commentary about Chechnya.
Sources
Q&A The Chechen Conflict, BBC News -- July 10, 2006 (viewed April 11, 2010)
Conflict in Chechnya, PBS Online NewsHour (viewed April 11, 2010)
Jennifer Ciotta - Jennifer Ciotta is the author of I, Putin (Vladimir Putin novel): http://vladimirputinnovel.com.
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