12/08/2009
Chechen Jihad: An Analytical Overview
Gideon Scher

Chechen Jihad: An Analytical Overview


By Gideon Scher, Legacy Heritage Fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY-CHECHNYA

The conflict in Chechnya is one of secession and not Islamic fundamentalism. The objective of the resistance is the creation of an independent Chechnya and not a fight against the West. Foreign Jihadists first arrived in Chechnya during the first Chechen war in 1994. They had previous fighting experience from the Jihadi arenas of Afghanistan and Bosnia. The Chechen arena provided the foundation for Wahabist influence in the Caucuses. In 1999 the second Chechen war began. The reason for the Russian invasion was ostensibly to fight terrorism and the Jihadist rebels. The true reasons are thought to be the prevention of Chechen secessionism, to avenge the previous Chechen victory and to maintain Russia's geo-political influence in Central Asia and the Middle East. The current leader of Chechnya is Ramzan Kadyrov. There are allegations of violent human rights abuses under Kadyrov's rule

Major players in the Chechen arena include prominent Chechen politicians, local Chechen warlords and foreign Jihadists who became leaders in the Chechen resistance movement. The connection between leaders of the Chechen resistance and al-Qaeda is also examined. Foreign Jihadi fighters have assumed leadership positions in the Chechen resistance. In Chechnya, foreign fighters were recruited by means of the international distribution of the speeches of prominent Chechen fighters and footage of successful Jihadi attacks in Chechnya. Local fighters were recruited by foreign Islamic clerics inside the Caucuses. The poor socio-economic situation of Chechen youth, as well as tribal codes and ethics, facilitated recruitment of local fighters. Chechen Jihadists have been trained by al-Qaeda both inside and outside of Chechnya (Afghanistan/Georgia). More experienced local Chechens also train fighters inside Chechnya. Funding for the Chechen Jihad comes from Islamic charity organizations, al-Qaeda, fundraising videos, money taken from those who collaborated with Russia and confiscated funds which Russia attempted to transfer to the Chechen government.

Foreign Jihadists in Chechnya came from the countries of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, Pakistan and parts of Central Asia and the Northern Caucuses.