This is one more atrocity in a struggle that has been going on for decades, and that "went hot" in 1999.
http://www.historyguy.com/chechen_war_two.html
CAUSES OF CONFLICT:
The Dagestan Campaign (1999)--This first part of the "Causes" section covers the initial rebel push into Dagestan. For the Chechnya campaign, see below.
In order to understand the roots of the conflict in Dagestan, an examination of the historical conflicts in that part of Russia in general, and the neighboring area of Chechnya in particular, is necessary. The area in southern Russia known as the Caucasus Region is home to a large variety of non-Russian ethnic groups, many of whom follow the Islamic faith and want little to do with the government of Russia. After the communist Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, the three southernmost Soviet Republics declared independence: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The areas immediately north of these new nations remained part of the new Russian Republic, though their populations were largely not Russian. Several of these ethnic groups began agitating for more autonomy from Moscow or for outright independence.
One of the more vocal groups were the Chechens; a group with a long and bloody history of opposition to Moscow's rule. During World War 2, the Communist Soviet government deported the whole Chechen population to Central Asia out of fear they were going to aid the invading Germans. Though they were allowed to return to their homeland decades later, the Chechen populace maintained their dislike of the Russian-dominated Soviet government.
The Chechens declared themselves a sovereign nation in 1991. By 1994, relations between the breakaway government in Chechnya and the Russian government had drastically deteriorated. In December of that year, Russian forces attacked Chechnya, beginning a bloody, embarrassing conflict in which the Russian military proved rather inept. That war ended in August, 1996 with the Chechens claiming victory and independence, and the Russian government claiming victory and the retention of Chechnya as a part of Russia. In other words, both sides agreed to disagree and halted the major fighting. Clashes along the border continued as several Chechen rebel leaders and groups continued to harass the Russians in nearby areas. One such area is Dagestan, another largely Muslim (Islamic), region of southern Russia. Some Dagestanis are reported to have helped the Chechens in their war and some of the more radical Chechen war leaders wish to force Russia out of the area and unite the Muslim peoples of the Caucasus region. However, in comparison to Chechnya, Dagestan has over 30 separate ethnic groups, as opposed to the more homogenous population of Chechnya.
"Khattab", an Arab who is a militant leader of the fundamentalist Wahhabi Islamic movement and Shamil Basayev, a famous rebel leader from the Chechen War, are reported to be in command of the guerrilla forces in Dagestan. They are known to favor the unification of Chechnya and Dagestan. Another point to consider is that Basayev and other militant warlords of the Chechen independence movement are at odds with the elected Chechen President, Aslan Maskhadov, who claims no official Chechen involvement in the new conflict. *This was written prior to the Russian invasion of Chechnya in 1999. Moscow used the Dagestan conflict as an excuse to end Chechnya's semi-independence.
The Chechen Campaign (2000-Present)
During the Dagestan Campaign, Russia suffered from several terrorist attacks in which powerful explosions ripped apart apartment buildings in cities throughout the nation. At least 300 people died due to the explosions in September of 1999. Russia's government, then headed by President Boris Yeltsin, claimed that the Islamic rebels (meaning the Chechens) were responsible for the terrorism. Using this as an excuse to continue the Dagestan Campaign into Chechnya proved quite popular with Russian voters. After Yeltsin's retirement, Acting President Vladimir Putin won the March 2000 election largely on the strength of his continuing war against the Chechens and Islamic "terrorists."
DESCRIPTION OF CONFLICT:
War Update: 8-21-01
Fighting broke out in August, 1999 in the Russian area of Dagestan as guerrilla forces infiltrated from neighboring Chechnya. Following months of clashes and tension in the border area of the semi-independent state of Chechnya and the Russian Republic of Dagestan, rebels seized control of several villages and battled Russian troops. Approximately 2,000 self-proclaimed Islamic rebels battled the growing numbers of Russian troops. The Russian government reinforced the 17,000 soldiers already in the region and carried out airstrikes against the rebels. Within the first six days of the war's outbreak, Russian warplanes flew at least 200 sorties.
The local populace did not flock to the rebel banner, allowing the Russian forces the opportunity to take the initiative and drive the rebels out of Dagestan and back into Chechnya.
After driving the rebels from Dagestan, Russian forces pursued the rebels into Chechnya with the intent of ending the separatist republic's existence. To this end, a ruthless military push toward the Chechen capital of Grozny began. Learning from their failed 1994-1996 war against the Chechens, the Russians made extensive and heavy use of long-distance weaponry. Chechen cities and villages were leveled by intense Russian air attacks and artillery bombardment designed to maximize rebel losses while minimizing Russian casualties.
Russia now claims control of Grozny, but rebel units and snipers still fight on inside the city as the war turns to the countryside. The war now is moving into a rural guerrilla conflict. Russian losses continue to grow as they pursue the Chechen forces into the mountainous regions to the south. Also, areas that Russia claims are pacified periodically erupt in hit and run ambushes of Russian troops. The war for Chechnya does not appear to have an end in sight.
CONSEQUENCES OF CONFLICT:
Russia's relations with the West were strained due to the harshness of the Chechen campaign.
CASUALTY FIGURES:
Russia--As of January, 2000, Russia admitted to 1,173 casualties. Independent media sources however, report Russian losses at closer to 3,000 dead.
Chechnya-- Unknown, but civilian deaths are thought to exceed 50,000.
UNIQUE FACTS OR TRENDS:
Too soon to determine.
SEE THE ABOVE LINK FOR LINKS TO THESE
SOURCES:
The Dagestan War: Actors, Roots and Predictions-- Report from the Center for Defense Information
The Boston Globe: Russia's threat raises prospects of regionwide war in Caucasus
Christian Science Monitor: The Dagestan War and Beyond
British Broadcasting Corp.: Dagestan rebels hit hard--Includes map of region.
British Broadcasting Corp.: Analysis: Jihad or Russian conspiracy?
Time Magazine: Why Dagestan Smells Like a Recipe for Disaster
Russia Today: Key Facts And Figures About Russia's Dagestan--Contains good background information.
Russia Today: Chronology of Russian Involvement in the North Caucasus--Contains good background information.
Thanks for the history.