Wikipedia: Chechnya

Chechnya
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Chechen Republic (Russian: Чеченская Республика) is a constituent republic of the Russian Federation. Bordering Stavropol' Territory to the northwest, the republic of Dagestan to the northeast and east, Georgia to the south, and the republic of Ingushetia to the west, it is located in Northern Caucasus mountains, in the Southern Federal District.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the group of Chechen leaders declared themselves a new parliament and declared independence as the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. As of 2003, the independence is not recognized by any state; however this declaration caused armed conflicts in which several rival Chechen groups and the Federal army was involved, resulted in about 250,000 deaths in the period of 1994-2003. As of 2003, Federals still did not have full control of the republic.

Чеченская Республика Российской Федерации
Chechenskaya Respublika Rossijskoj Federatsii


(In Detail)	(Full size)

National motto: None

Official languages

Russian, Chechen

Capital

Grozny

President

Akhmad Kadyrov

Area
- Total
- % water

(not ranked)
17,300km²
Negligible

Population
- Total (1997)
- Density

(not ranked)
862 000
50/km²

Currency

Russian Rouble

Time zone

UTC +3

Calling Code

7 (Russia)

History

Main article: History of Chechnya''

A part of the Russian Empire since 1859, the Chechnya-Ingushetia region was incorporated as the Checheno-Ingushkaja Autonomous Soviet-Socialist Republic during the founding of the Soviet Union. Over the course of Soviet rule, the Chechens endured a forced deportment of the whole population to the Kazakh SSR (later Kazakhstan) during World War II. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, an independence movement formed in Chechnya, while Russia refused to allow the secession. As a result, Chechnya has undergone two civil wars, which have left most of Chechnya under the control of the federal military. Chechen separatists still claim an independent Chechnya and have orchestrated attacks in Chechnya and other regions of Russia, including Moscow.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Chechnya

Chechnya is considered an independent republic by its separatists, and a federal republic by its federalists. Its regional constitution was entered into effect on April 2, 2003 after an all-Chechen referendum was held on March 23, 2003.

Since 1990, the Chechen Republic has had legal, military, and civil conflicts involving the separatist movements. However, the current government of the Chechen Republic meets most laws of Checheno-Ingushkaja ASSR, the Chechen Republic, and the Russian Federation. This compromise is considered by some to be pro-federal government. Despite popular belief, most Chechen citizens see the Chechen Republic as being within the Russian Federation (more than 70% by independent and even anti-Russian polls).

The President, Akhmad Kadyrov was elected with 83 percent of the vote in an internationally monitored election in 2003. (However, there are claims of ballot stuffing and voter intimidation, namely from OSCE). Rudnik Dudayev is head of the Chechen Security Council and Anatoliy Popov is the prime minister.

In addition to formally elected government, there is a self-proclaimed separatist government not recognized by any state. The president of this government is Aslan Maskhadov, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister is Akhmed Zakayev. Aslan Maskhadov was elected in an internationally monitored election in 1997 for 4 years, when it was a major political force. In 2001 he issued a decree prolonging his office for one additional year; he didn't participate the 2003 presidential election. Maskhadov left Grozny and moved to the separatist-controlled areas of the south during the onset of the Second Chechen War. President Maskhadov was unable to influence a number of warlords who retain effective control over Chechen territory, and his power was diminished as a result. Most probably, any actions of Maskhadov's government or even its disappearance would not change current situation in the Chechen Republic.

Some territories are or were controlled by regional teips.