Russia & Chechnya Centuries of Conflict

Russia & ChechnyaCenturies of Conflict

•The Chechen Republic is a region within the country of Russia.•The Chechen Republic is commonly called Chechnya.

Flag of the Chechen Republic

Flag of the Russian Federation


• Chechnya lies along the important overland trade route between Russia and the Middle-East and borders Russia’s old ally Georgia.

• Tensions over Russian influence in the region erupted in fighting between Chechnya and Russia in 1795.

• The brutal fighting lasted for over 50 years. The Russian Empire finally absorbed Chechnya in 1862.

Chechnya is that little area in the circle.About 1.2 million people live there.


• During Stalin’s time, he promised Chechnya more freedom and self-rule, but in reality, Stalin’s government killed many Chechen nationalists.

• When the Germans invaded in 1942, many Chechens sided with the Nazis who they saw as liberators from Russian Rule.

• After the German retreat, Stalin had at least 500,000 Chechens removed from their homes and sent east to work in forced labor camps.


• In 1991 Chechnya declared its independence from Russia.

• In 1994 Russia invaded Chechnya and the fighting lasted until the Russians withdrew in 1996.

• 1999 – The Russians invade once again, this time in response to Chechen terrorist attacks in Russia. The Russians destroy the Chechen capital, Grozny.

• 2014 – The Russians rule over Chechnya but continue to fight against radical Islamist terrorists and Chechen nationalists who want full independence for Chechnya.


The basic causes of the tensions.1. The Chechens are mostly Muslim. The Russians

are not. - Religious tension2. Chechens are not Russians.- Ethnic tension3. Russia has ruled Chechnya by varying levels of

force, since 1862. - Imperialism4. The Chechens are proud of their Republic and

want to be totally independent.- Nationalism

Terrorism and Chechens

• Radical Islamist groups like Al-Qaeda have set up bases in Chechnya. They are allies of the Chechen rebels who are fighting the Russians.

The flag of Al-Qaeda in Chechnya.

Chechen Rebels

Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?• According to Chechen sources over

50,000 Chechens died in the fighting between 1999 and 2008.

Chechen terrorist attacks in Russia:1999 - 293 people killed in an apartment

building bomb blast in Moscow.2002 - 133 hostages and 40 terrorists

killed in a theater takeover.2004 - 334 killed, including 186 children,

when terrorists take over a Russian elementary school.

2010 – 40 killed in a bombing in the Moscow subway.

2011- 37 killed in a Moscow airport suicide bomb attack.

Although the United States and Russia,Disagree on many subjects, this is one where both countries agree. Both countriessee the Chechen rebels as the enemy in theWar on Terror.

Russia & GeorgiaA Communist Family Squabble

• In 1903 the Russian communists split in to two parties.

• The Bolsheviks were the majority.

• The Mensheviks were the minority.

• The Mensheviks were more traditional Marxists and were generally seen as more liberal and democratic. Beware of the Mensheviks and Social

Revolutionary Party Members. They are followed by the Tsar's generals, priests and landowners


• The Mensheviks never obtained control in Russia, but they did establish a socialist Democratic Republic of Georgia, where they were very popular.

• In 1921 the Bolsheviks attacked Georgia and took it over.

About 4.5 million people live in the country of Georgia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and Turkey to the south. Most of the people speak Georgian, not Russian.


• When the Soviet Union broke up, Georgia became an independent democracy in 1991.

• Fighting broke out that same year between Georgians and an ethnic minority in Georgia, the Ossetians, who are related to Iranians.

• The Ossetians established their own semi-independent republic, South Ossetia, which is allied with Russia.


• Most people living in South Ossetia are Russian citizens with Russian passports. The Russian government wants complete freedom and independence for South Ossetia from Georgia.

• The Government of the United States agreed with Georgia that South Ossetia should not have independence.

•Think about it.

The United States generally claims to support freedom and self determination for most people. Why do you think they were against independence for the people of South Ossetia?


• August 2008 Georgia invades South Ossetia, hoping to quickly overwhelm the weak South Ossetia forces.

• Russia reacts and sends thousands of soldiers in to South Ossetia, and conducts devastating air raids against the Georgian army.

• The Georgian army is defeated and retreats from South Ossetia after five days of heavy fighting.

• South Ossetia is now under the protection of the Russian military.

Look at the political cartoon. Explain what Is happening? Who do the various flags represent?Young women

celebrate South Ossetianindependence.

Russia & UkraineCrisis in Crimea

• Established in the 10th century as the Kyivan Rus, Ukraine is the oldest and largest independent Slavic country.

• It was invaded and taken over by Russia in the late 1700’s.

• After the Russian Revolution in 1917, Ukraine had a brief period of independence, but was re-conquered by the Russians in 1920.

• Between 1921 and 1933 over 8 million Ukrainians died due to famines created by the Russians.


• 1991 – Ukraine becomes independent with the collapse of the Soviet Union

• 2010 – Victor Yanukovych is elected President

• 2013 – Yanukovych backs out of a cooperation agreement with the European Union, in order to receive billions in economic assistance from Russia.

• This leads to massive protests in the streets of Kiev, the capital city.


• 2014 - The government uses force to break up the protests.

• This leads to violence, deaths, and the collapse of the government.

• Yanukovych flees Kiev and a new government is installed


Where did Yanukovych go? Only hisgood friend Putin knows for sure.

• On March 1, one week after the overthrow in Kiev, Putin orders the Russian military to occupy Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.

• Putin claims it is to protect the ethnic Russians living in Crimea.

• The real reason is that Crimea is the location of a key naval base, and Russia’s only access to a year round warm weather port.

• March 17, 2014 the Crimean Parliament declares itself independent from Ukraine, and requests to become part of the Russian Federation.

• March 18, Putin claims Crimea as part of Russia.

• March 25, 2014 Ukraine orders the withdrawal of all their troops from Crimea.

• Think about it.Like in the case with South

Ossetia, The United States generally claims to support freedom and independence for most people, but were strongly opposed to independence for Crimea.

Why do you think they were against self-determination for the people of Crimea?

• Should people always have a right to independence if they want to break away from a government they don’t like?


U.S. president George W. Bush’s statement to Russia and Putin in 2008 over the invasion of Georgia was:

"Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century.“[

"Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people," said Mr. Bush. "Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century.“

Initially the Bush Administration considered a military response to defend Georgia, but such an intervention was ruled out due to the inevitable conflict it would lead to with Russia

President Barrack Obama’s statement to Russia and Putin in 2014 over the invasion of Crimea was:

“The belief that through conscious and free will each of us has the right to live as we chose,” and “The belief that power is derived from the consent of the governed, and that laws and institutions should be to protect that understanding.”

“Those ideals have often been threatened by an older, more traditional view of power,” Mr. Obama added, before later calling out Russia specifically for its recent annexation of Crimea.

“Once again,” he said later, “we are confronted with the belief among some that bigger nations can bully smaller ones to get their way. That recycled maxim that might, somehow, makes right.

"Now is not the time for bluster," the president said. "There are no easy answers or military solutions to the problem in Ukraine. We must meet the challenge with strength and conviction.“

Russia will not be dislodged from Crimea through military force, Obama stated, but it will realize over time that it can't achieve "what it seeks through brute force."

Think about it.Do you see any parallels between the statements madeby the Presidents six year s apart? If Putin feels free to use Russia’s military, why did both Presidents rule out military force?Do Putin’s interventions in Georgia and Ukraine remind you of anyone else?


• Time to reflect:Think about President Obama’s recent

statement. “The belief that through conscious and free will each of us has the right to live as we chose,” and “The belief that power is derived from the consent of the governed, and that laws and institutions should be to protect that understanding.”

Where have you heard that statement before? Who does it sound like to you?Does the United States always believe that? Justify your answer with facts

that you have learned.


Homework

• Read the following passage to one of your parents or a grown up you live with.

• Write down their answers to the two questions.

The United States generally claims to support freedom and independence for most people, but are strongly opposed to independence for Crimea.

1) Why do you think they are against self-determination for the people of Crimea?2)Should people always have a right to independence if they want to break away from a government they

don’t like?

How do their answers compare to the answers you gave when you answered these questions. ?

What are some of the reasons they are similar or different?

Documents

Russia & Chechnya Centuries of Conflict