Debate 1
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Debate on the Wars in Chechnya
1994-96 and 1999-2009
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The first debate in week 6 of the class is on the subject of the current war
in Chechnya
(and its predecessor, the war in 1994-1996). The Russian
Federation, of which Chechnya is a region with some significant
local autonomy, has attempted to bring the republic fully within Russian
control for the past few years. At the end of the 1994-96 war, Chechnya,
to all intents and purposes, has de facto
independence with the withdrawal of Russian forces. A series of unexplained
bombings in Moscow and other Russian cities
in Fall 1999 and a Chechen incursion into Dagestan
(a neighboring Russian province) provided the context for a Russian attempt to
subdue the Chechens once again. After a year of war, Russian forces controlled
the north of the region and (partially) maintain control of Grozny (the capital), but Chechen forces continue to
attack and kill Russian troops and pro-Moscow civilians from their hide-outs in
the Caucasus mountains in the south
of the province. There remained little prospect of a Russian military
victory. But in a major policy reversal,
President Putin picked a former rebel leader, Sheikh Akhmad Kadyrov as
President in 2003 (succeeded by his son, Ramzan Kadyrov in 2007) to control the
republic. The kadyrovtsi (Kadyrov’s militias) comprised of many former rebels now
control affairs in the republic, with Russian support, and have killed or
captured many of their former rebel colleagues.
The rebels continue their struggle but their attacks have diminished,
though the war has spread to adjoining republics and now involves as many as 17
different rebel groups.
There are five positions - each corresponding to a team. Each team is asked
to respond to the questions like the ones below in
the debate. For each team, we suggest a web link if you want more information
on the perspective that you are representing. You can also, of course, find
other materials in the library or on the Web to help your argument.
For background on the crisis in Chechnya, click on the following
links:
The BBC Country Profiles has one of the best
overviews of the Chechen conflict. The PBS News Hour gives a timeline, photos and
recent updates on the Chechen conflict. PBS also has similar sites with additional
pictures and stories. There are also
several News sources about Chechnya
in English that are online e.g. Chechnya News and the North
Caucasus weekly. Be sure to
read the background article from The Economist, “The wild south” which
is on electronic reserve for this class
Team
A
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Chechens
(perspective from the battle-front)
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You should look at the Kavkaz Center, which is also listed below
for the Islamic supporters of Chechnya
group. Note the broader framing of their
position within a jihadist –Western framework.
Team
B
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U.S.
Department of State (the official US governmental position)
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U.S. State
Department - search for Chechnya , “U.S.-Russia Relations”, U.S. Embassy in
Moscow (search: Chechnya)
Team
C
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Human
Rights Perspective
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The
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, and Amnesty International, Prague Watchdog
Team
D
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Islamist
supporters of the Chechens
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Kavkaz
Center (be sure to check out the “About Us” link)
Team
E
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Russian
Government (Russian Informational Centre)
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Russian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (Click English, and search Chechnya)
President Putin speech on Chechnya
Prepare for these
kinds of questions in the debate:
- Do the Chechens have a right
to independence from Russia?
- Is Russia and its Kadyrov
allies in violation of the norms of
international law by its attacks on the rebels?
- Who is mostly responsible for
the refugee flow from Chechnya
and for the spread of the conflict?
- Is there an outcome that
would be satisfactory to all sides? What would it be?
