I'm not "defending" Chechen terrorists. I'm defending civilians whose nationality happens to be Chechen. The Russia 'zachistka' operations detain and often torture all men in an area of 'rebel activity' above the age of 10. Probably some of them are involved with Chechen rebels. But not all of them are, and those of them who are tortured are likely to resent the Russians and sympathise with the rebels.
Ignoring atrocities against civilians because they are committed by the side you sympathise with is wrong. I am aware of the sick cruelty of certain Chechen rebels/terrorists like Khattab, Shamil Basayev and Arbi Barayev. However, the fact that atrocities were committed by Chechens does not mean that the whole Chechen population support those incidents, nor does it mean that we should ignore atrocities committed against Chechen civilians.
The Russians are dealing with them in the same way they have dealt with the Russians. A year ago, I might have agreed with you, but not now. Putin is pulling the reins on the troops where he can, but there is a deep and abiding hatred for the barbarity of these people and I'm beginning to understand that.