| Revision as of 06:28, 8 July 2003 editStewacide (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,237 editsm terrorist -> rebel (except where talking about attacks on civilians in Russia)← Previous edit | Revision as of 06:29, 8 July 2003 edit undoStewacide (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,237 editsmNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| Despite public statements by ] and other Russian officials insisting that the war is over, Chechen ] led by ] continue to wage a guerilla-style ] against Russian troops and the Chechen administation, killing soldiers and civilians alike with frequent bombings, rocket and gun attacks. Chechen rebels often videotape their work and publish the videos on the Internet. | Despite public statements by ] and other Russian officials insisting that the war is over, Chechen ] led by ] continue to wage a guerilla-style ] against Russian troops and the Chechen administation, killing soldiers and civilians alike with frequent bombings, rocket and gun attacks. Chechen rebels often videotape their work and publish the videos on the Internet. | ||
| See also: ] | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| *http://www.rnw.nl/hotspots/html/che020724.html | *http://www.rnw.nl/hotspots/html/che020724.html | ||
| *http://www.hrw.org/press/1999/nov/chech1103.htm | *http://www.hrw.org/press/1999/nov/chech1103.htm | ||
Revision as of 06:29, 8 July 2003
The Second Chechen War began in 1999, after series of terrorist attacks on residential buildings in Russian cities that caused more then 1000 casualties, and attacks by Checen forces on neigbhoring Dagestan. Two years before, a Chechen politician in favor of independence, Aslan Maskhadov, was elected as President of Chechnya, but the elections were not recognised by any country. Under Chechen regime, similar to Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Chechens were deprived of most of their basic rights.
During the conflict, many terrorist attacks happened during four years of war; one was at the Dubrovka Theater, in October,2002, when a commando of Chechen Rebels took the theater in Moscow for three days. On October 27, 2002, the Russian Army used unknown gas to end the drama which caused many casualties, but prevented suicide bombers to unleash their load. This brought many questions and doubts about the politics of Russian President Vladimir Putin against Chechen terrorists. In November, 2002, a bomb destroyed the Pro-Russian Government Headquarters and killed more than 20 people in the Chechen capital, Grozny.
According to Chechen rebel sources 60,000 civilians have so far died this war.
During the the initial months of the war, Russia made effective use of air power instead of immediately rushing in massive numbers of ground troops as they did in the first war to high casualties. Russian forces later resorted to heavy carpet bombing and ballistic missile strikes against Grozny and other major cities; though upon attacks corridors were made for civilians to exit the cities, they were not allowed to by rebels which caused deaths of many civilians along with the enemy. There are also reports of chemical weapons being used against rebels, though this is yet unconfirmed. Some Western countries have criticized heavy-handedness of the Russian military in dealing with the rebels.
Leaders of Chechen terrorist have repeatedly found refuge in various Western countries, to the great protests of Russia.
Despite public statements by Putin and other Russian officials insisting that the war is over, Chechen terrorists led by Shamil Basayev continue to wage a guerilla-style jihad against Russian troops and the Chechen administation, killing soldiers and civilians alike with frequent bombings, rocket and gun attacks. Chechen rebels often videotape their work and publish the videos on the Internet.
See also: First Chechen War