Religious Divide

The Capital of Chechnya –– Grozny

For over two centuries Chechnya and Russia have been continuously inter-twined –– often erupting in violence and oppression as a result of their religious divide and individual interests. Chechnya is a land locked region of Southern Russia in the North Caucasus, with the capital Grozny set in the centre. Three cultural groups inhabit the area; the Chechen-Ingush who comprise 60% of the population, the Russians who form a combined 35%, and numerous Caucasian nationalities who make up the remaining 5% of the population. Professor of International relations and accomplished historian, P.L. Dash, states that historically, this ethnic composition has tended to create a cultural divide between the Russians who are slavs, and the Chechen-Ingush who are Muslim. “Ever since the Persian campaign of Peter the Great in 1722, that resulted in Russian colonisation of the region, both sides have nurtured a sense of animosity on the basis of religion.” (Dash:1995:pg.369) The Russian Empire expanded into the Caucasus region during the late 19th century, and formally annexed Chechnya into the Soviet Union in the 1920s after the Russian revolution. Today Russia continues to maintain a vital interest in the Chechen region for economic reasons.