Lydia Ciaffone

Chechen Terrorism (Russia, Chechnya, Separatist)

1. Where in the Russian Federation would you find Chechnya?
You would find Chechnya is in the Russias North Caucasus region.
2. How are the Chechens different from the Russians?
The Chechens are a largely Muslim ethnic group, and Russia is mostly
Russian orthodox.
3. Did the Chechens gain independence from tsars Russia after the 1917
Russian Revolution? Explain.
Chechnya has experienced several brief periods of de facto
independence. But in 1921 after the Russia revolution they became a
soviet socialist republic.
4. What did Stalin do to the Chechens during WWII? Why did he do
this?
Stalin accused the Chechens of collaborating with Nazi invaders.
Chechens were not allowed to return to their homeland until 1957.
5. Who, and how was their fate changed?
Nikita Khrushchev, restored the province amid de-Stalinization.
6. What was the first Chechen War? [Who started it? When? Why?
Results?]
From 1994-1996, Russia fought Chechen guerillas in a conflict that
became known as the Fist Chechen War. Russia failed to gain control of
their mountainous terrain, giving Chechnya de facto independence.
7. When was the second Chechen War? [Who started it? When? Why?
Results?]
In 1999 Chechen militants invaded the neighboring Russian republic of
Dagestan to support a local separatist movement. This was also known as
the War in the North Caucasus. This killed almost three hundred civilians

and it makes it the largest coordinated terrorist attack in Russian

history.
8. Prior to his death in 2006, the separatist Basayve was deemed to be
responsible for the most notorious event to that point in
time. Identify this event. How many deceased militants in this event
were NOT Chechen? Why might this be a significant change in the
Chechen Wars?
Tens of thousands of Chechens and Russians were killed or wounded in the
two wars and hundreds of thousands of civilians were displaced. In an
explosion many see the work of Russias internal security services- seem
to have stifled the movement.
9. According to the American ambassador to Russia, what terrorist
group is assisting the Chechen rebels? How/why might Americans who
were once sympathetic to the Chechen cause for independence from the
Russian Federation have changed?
Alexander Vershbow, a US ambassador said to Russia that they have
recognized that Osama bin Laden and other international networks have
been fueling the flames in Chechnya, including the involvement of foreign
commanders like Khattab. Now Americans who were once sympathetic to
the Chechens would probably support Russia and be against them, because
they brought their terrorist to the US and caused us harm.
10. Do you believe the Russians should grant Chechnya their
independence? Why or why not? [Answer this question in paragraph
format (minimum of six sentences).]
I understand both sides of this argument but in my opinion I think that
Chechens should gain independence. I think they should gain their
independence because it would stop some of the terrorist attacks. Why
would they keep attacking if they had independence? Also they do not
belong with Russia, they have a different religion and they fight and
cause problems with Russia all the time. There would be less wars and no
more revolutions in Russia if they gained independence.