Rebels with a Cause: A Survey of Terrorism in Chechnya and Important Lessons the Chechen Crisis Presents for the United States

Abstract

Chechnya, a republic of the Russian Federation located in the volatile North Caucus, has a history of committing acts of terrorism in its attempt to secede from Russia and become an independent and sovereign nation. Russia has responded to the situation militarily and currently has control over Chechnya, but the country has committed a series of acts violating international humanitarian law in doing so. This paper begins by examining the history of Chechnya, including how it came to be a republic of Russia, and discussing the First and Second Chechen Wars. This paper next addresses why the situation in Chechnya is pertinent to the United States. This paper then explains how terrorism is defined under United States laws, which terrorist groups are active in Chechnya, and then moves on to the acts of terrorism these groups have committed in Russia. This paper finally discusses what the United States can learn from the Chechen crisis, focusing on the similarities and differences between terrorism in the United States and in Russia, suggesting what Russia did well in handling the Chechen conflict, and ways Russia dealt with the situation that are potentially problematic. Although there are many different areas of law that apply to the Chechen situation, this paper suggests what the United States can take away from the conflict and thus analyzes the Chechen conflict under United States and international humanitarian law, while noting several instances in which Russia violated its own Constitution. This paper thus examines Russia’s response to terrorism in Chechnya, analyzing Russia’s reactions under international and United States law, and suggests what the United States can learn from how the Russians handled the situation in Chechnya.