Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Region of southern russia lying on the European side of the Caucasus mountain range. The Chechens (currently estimated at 1.2 million in number, and predominantly of muslim faith) have long resisted russification . From the late 1930s the area formed, jointly with Ingushetia, an autonomous republic of the soviet union . When the USSR dissolved in 1991, Chechnya unilaterally declared its independence and prepared for guerrilla resistance to Moscow's hostile response. There followed the First and Second Chechen Wars (1994–6, 1999–2000), in which both sides were guilty of significant atrocities. Though the earlier of these conflicts ended inconclusively, the later one enabled Russia to assert a firmer measure of direct control over most of the region. Chechen rebels have continued, however, to use terrorism in their continuing attempts at promoting independent statehood. ... log in or subscribe to read full text