History of Chechnya 411747 220409048 2008-06-19T18:46:28Z Cacafuego95 229577 /* First Chechen War (1994-1996) */ [[Chechnya|Chechen]] society has traditionally been organized around many autonomous local clans, called [[teip]]s. Even today, many [[Chechens]] consider themselves loyal to their teip and [[tukkhum]] above all; this is one reason why it has been difficult to forge a united political front against [[Russia]]. ==Earliest recorded history== From the [[7th century]] through the 16th century [[Chechens]] and [[Ingush]]es were mostly [[Christian]]s and [[pagan]]s but then the influence of [[Islam]] spread until [[Sufi Islam|Sufi Muslims]] became the majority. Later the conflicts intensified with their Christian neighbours such as [[Georgian people|Georgians]] and [[Cossacks]], as well as with the Buddhist [[Kalmyk people|Kalmyks]]. == Russian Empire == Russian influence started as early as the [[16th century]] when [[Ivan the Terrible]] founded [[Tarki]] in 1559 where the first [[Cossack]] army was stationed. The Russian [[Terek Cossack Host]] was established in lowland Chechnya in [[1577]] by free Cossacks resettled from Volga River Valley to the Terek River Valley. In [[1783]] Russia and the eastern [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]n kingdom of [[Kartl-Kakheti]] (which had been devastated by [[Ottoman Empire|Turkish]] and [[History of Persia|Persian]] invasions) signed the [[Treaty of Georgievsk]], according to which Kartli-Kakheti was to receive Russian protection. In order to secure communications with Georgia and other regions of the [[Transcaucasia]] the [[Russian Empire]] began spreading her influence into the [[Caucasus]] mountains; It soon met with fierce resistance from the mountain [[tribe]]s. In [[1785]], a [[holy war]] was declared on the Russians by [[Sheikh Mansur]], who was captured in [[1791]] and died a few years later. Following the incorporation of neighbouring [[Dagestan]] into the Empire in [[1803]]-[[1813]], [[Russian Empire|Imperial Russian]] forces under [[Aleksey Petrovich Yermolov|Aleksey Yermolov]] began moving into [[Highland (geography)|highland]] Chechnya in [[1830]] to secure Russia's borders with the [[Ottoman Empire]]. In the course of the prolonged [[Caucasian War]], the Chechens, along with many peoples of the Eastern [[Caucasus]], united into the [[Caucasian Imamate]] and resisted fiercely, led by the [[Dagestan]]i commanders [[Ghazi Mohammed]], [[Gamzat-bek]] and [[Imam Shamil]], but Chechnya was finally absorbed into the Russian Empire in [[1859]] after Shamil's capture. The long and brutal war caused a prolonged wave of [[emigration]] until the end of the [[19th century]].{{Fact|date=February 2008}} Thousands of highlanders moved to [[Turkey]] and other countries of the [[Middle East]], while [[Terek Cossacks]] and [[Armenians]] settled in Chechnya. During the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78]] the highlanders rose against Russia once more, but they were defeated again.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} After the end of the Caucasus War, the region enjoyed a relative peace. By the end of the 19th century, major [[oil]] deposits were discovered around Gorzny (1893) which along with the arrival of the [[railroad]] (early 1890s), brought economic prosperity to the region (then administered as part of the [[Terek Oblast]]). == Soviet Union == During the [[Russian Civil War]] the Northern Caucasus switched hands several times between [[Denikin]]'s [[Volunteer Army]], the [[Bolshevik]] [[Red Army]] and the [[Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus]], who allied with the Bolsheviks as they promised them greater autonomy and self-rule. Following the end of the conflict in [[1921]], the Chechnya-Ingushetia had been first made part of the [[Soviet Mountain Republic]], and after it was disbanded in [[1924]] received the official status of an [[Republics of the Soviet Union|autonomous republic]] within the [[Soviet Union]] in [[1936]]. The republic included not only the ethnically Chechen mountains but also large stretches of steppe inhabited by the Terek Cossacks. During [[World War II]], despite the fact that about 40,000 Chechens and Ingush fought in the [[Red Army]] (50 of them received the highest recognition of the [[Hero of the Soviet Union]]), the [[1940-1944 Chechnya insurgency|Soviet government accused them of cooperating]] with the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] invaders, who had controlled the western parts of Chechnya-Ingushetia for several months of the [[1942]]/[[1943]] winter. It was claimed that some Chechens were eager to show the Nazis mountain passes leading to [[Azerbaijan]], whose [[oil reserves]] were the goal of [[Operation Blue]]. On orders from [[Lavrenty Beria]], the head of the [[NKVD]] the entire Chechen and Ingush population of the republic were [[Population transfer in the Soviet Union|deported]] to [[Kazakhstan]]. The Checheno-Ingush ASSR was transformed into [[Grozny oblast]] (that also included some other territories) and parts of it were given to [[North Ossetia]] (part of [[Prigorodny District, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania|Prigorodny District]]), [[Georgian SSR]] and [[Dagestan]] ASSR. In [[1949]] Soviet authorities erected a statue of 19th century Russian general [[Aleksey Petrovich Yermolov|Aleksey Yermolov]] in [[Grozny]]. The inscription read, "There is no people under the sun more vile and deceitful than this one."<ref>[http://pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk/isj86/ferguson.htm Chechnya: the empire strikes back]</ref> The Chechens were allowed to return only in [[1957]], four years after Stalin's death in [[1953]]. Territories that had been transferred to Ossetia and Dagestan were not returned to restored Checheno-Ingushetia. On the other hand several regions such as the [[Naursky District|Naursky district]] and Schelokovsky Districts of [[Stavropol Kray]] (historically always part of Russia, and populated by [[Terek Cossacks]]) that was not part of the pre-1944 republic were added on. The returning Chechens were encouraged to settle in the lowland steppe regions, and in Gorzny itself rather than the historical mountainous districts. This caused caused extensive friction which erupted into the [[1958 Grozny riots]], between the Russian and Chechen population of the city. <ref>[http://www.gzt.ru/politics/2004/02/27/050000.html Операция "Чечевица"]</ref> In the [[20th century]], some lowland territories of Chechnya changed their owners several times. After the [[Russian Civil War]], lands populated by [[Terek Cossacks]] and Russian colonists were granted to Chechens and Ingush as a reward for their support of the [[Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks)|Bolsheviks]] against the [[White movement]]. Later these lands were partially returned to the Cossacks or [[Ossetians]]. <ref name=Kavkaz1944>[http://www.iea.ras.ru/archive/maps/1944.pdf] Caucasus Land repartition in 1944 (pdf)</ref> == Post-Soviet Chechnya == After the demise of the [[Soviet Union]], the situation in Chechnya became unclear. Below is the chronology of that time: * sometime during the Soviet era, there was the '''[[Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic]]''', consisting of Chechnya and [[Ingushetia]]. In [[1990]] it was renamed to the '''Chechen-Ingush Republic'''. * On [[September 1]], [[1991]], some Chechen politicians formed the "National Congress of Chechen People", which declared that part of the Chechen-Ingush Republic had become an independent state called the Chechen Republic; they stated that supreme power was given to the Executive Committee, led by [[Dzhokhar Dudaev|Dzhokhar Dudayev]]. * On [[September 2]], [[1991]], a group of religious and public figures made a [[petition]], claiming that the Executive Committee was not legitimate and that actions of the Committee would inevitably lead to bloodshed. * On [[September 6]], [[1991]], the building of the [[Supreme Soviet]] was occupied by Dzhokhar Dudayev'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 the request of Dudayev'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 unofficial election was held. Less than 20% (probably 12%) of the population participated, and Dzhokhar Dudayev was elected. Many false ballots were made, so the number of ballots significantly exceeded number of registered voters. * On [[November 1]], [[1991]], Dudayev 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 were not legitimate. * On May, [[1993]], the Chechen parliament and the [[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 Dudayev's actions were 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]]. Simultaneously the 300,000 strong non-Chechen minority, primarily ethnic Russians as well as Armenians and Jews were forced to flee the republic. ==First Chechen War (1994-1996)== ''Main article: [[First Chechen War]]'' Russian federal forces overran [[Grozny]] 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 warfare|guerrilla]] operations from the mountainous terrain. By March [[1995]], [[Aslan Maskhadov]] became leader of the Chechen [[Resistance movement|resistance]]. In June, 1995, Chechen [[guerrillas]] occupied a hospital in the southern Russian town of [[Budyonnovsk]] (in [[Stavropol Krai]]), taking over 1,000 [[hostages]]. Federal forces attempted to storm the hospital twice and failed; the guerrillas were allowed to leave after freeing their hostages. This incident, televised accounts of war crimes and mass destruction, 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 killed in a Russian rocket attack on [[April 21]], 1996 and the [[Vice-president]] [[Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev]] became president. Negotiations on Chechen independence were repeatedly finally tabled in August 1996, leading to the end of the war and withdrawal of federal forces. Aslan Maskhadov was elected President in [[1997]], but was unable to consolidate control as the wartorn republic devolved into regional bickering among local [[teip]] leaders and [[organized crime|organized criminal]] [[Political faction|factions]]. == Second Chechen War and its consequences == ''Main article: [[Second Chechen War]]'' [[Image:Chechnya03.png|thumb|250px|Chechnya map]] In August [[1999]] renegade Chechen and Arab commanders led a large group of militants into [[Dagestan]]. Headed by [[Shamil Basayev]] and [[Amir Khattab]], the [[insurgents]] fought Russian forces in Dagestan for a week before being driven back into Chechnya proper. On [[September 9]], 1999, Chechens were blamed for the [[Russian Apartment Bombings|bombing of an apartment complex]] in [[Moscow]] and several other explosions in Russia. These events were viewed by Russia's new [[prime minister]] [[Vladimir Putin]] as a violation of the [[Khasav-Yurt Accord]] by the Chechen side. Thus, on [[October 1]], [[1999]], Russian troops entered Chechenya. Much better trained and prepared than in the first war, by December all of the northern steppe regions were conquered, and [[Grozny]] was encircled, which finally surrendered in early February 2000. By late spring all of the lowland, and most of the mountainous territory was successfully re-claimed by the federal forces. After several years of military administration, in [[2002]], a local government was formed by loyal Chechens headed by [[Akhmad Kadyrov]]. In [[2003]], referendum on constitution and presidential election were held. <ref name="dispatches">International observers described it as "deeply flawed". Dispatches, ''Chechnya: The dirty war'', [[Channel 4]] documentary, 2006.</ref> Since then more measures have been passed ending military administration and replacing it with civil apparatus. The Chechen separatists initially resisted fiercely, and several high-profile battles resulted in their victories such as the [[Battle of Hill 776]] and [[2000 Zhani-Vedeno ambush|Zhani-Vedeno ambush]]. Nonetheless the success in establishing a loyal Chechen milita and the actions of [[Spetsnaz|Russian Special Forces]] meant that in 2002 Putin announced that the war was officially over, and large scale operations involving regular army has ceased. However the [[Guerrilla phase of the Second Chechen War|Insurgency]] continued, and has spead to neghbouring regions with high profile clashes such as the [[Battle of Nalchik]] and the [[Beslan school hostage crisis|Beslan School siege]]. Yet after the deaths of prominent leaders [[Aslan Maskhadov]] and [[Shamil Basayev]], insurgency has slowly died down. 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]]. The two wars have left millions of people living in poverty, up to half a million refugees (particularly ethnic Russians), and most of the infrastructure destroyed. Since then Northern Chechnya and Grozny have been rebuilt. == References == <div class="references-small"> <references/> </div> == See also == * [[History of post-Soviet Russia]] == External links == * [http://www.chechenpress.info/english/ (in English and Russian) Official rebel website], the [[Chechenpress]]. * [http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?section=historyeng&lng=eng History of Chechnya at ChechnyaFree.ru, Official Russian government website] * [http://www.chechen.org/content.php?catID=7 The history of the ChRI (in Russian)] * [http://www.fidh.org/article.php3?id_article=1714 FIDH: Terror and Impunity : A Planned System] * [http://polosbastards.com/artman/publish/chechnya-history.shtml Russia's Splitting Headache - A Brief History Of Chechnya] [[Category:History of Chechnya| ]] [[be-x-old:Гісторыя Чачэніі]] [[cs:Dějiny Čečenska]] [[es:Historia de Chechenia]] [[ja:チェチェンの歴史]] [[ro:Istoria Ceceniei]] [[ru:История Чечни]]