Mujahedeen, Mafia, Madmen: Russian Perceptions of Chechens During the Wars in Chechnya, 1994-96 and 1999-2001

Abstract

The Russo-Chechen wars of 1994-96 and 1999 to date provided the Russian Federation with its first experiences of armed domestic insurgency and a fresh opportunity to apply theories of conflict resolution and international terrorism to the Russian situation. While broadly accepting the aims of its strategic partner, the West clearly was embarrassed by the crude propaganda issued by the Russian authorities in seeking to create negative stereotypes of the Chechens as well as by the excessive force employed and widespread human rights violations ascribed to the federal forces. The bombing campaign in Moscow in the autumn of 1999 and the subsequent demonizing of the Chechens as Islamic fundamentalists were particular cases in point. While these factors were apparent in both wars, a major difference was the change in the attitude of the Russian public from hostility during the first war to unconditional support in the second.

Keywords:

• Russo-Chechen Wars
• Armed Domestic Insurgency
• Negative Stereotypes
• Propaganda
• Demonizing Chechens
• Russian Public Attitude