History of Chechnya

First Chechen War (1994-1996)

Main article: First Chechen War

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Russian federal forces overran Grozny in November, 1994. Although the forces achieved some initial successes, the federal military made a number of critical strategic blunders during the Chechnya campaign and was widely perceived as incompetent. Led by Aslan Maskhadov, separatists conducted successful guerrilla operations from the mountainous terrain.

Related Topics:
Grozny - November - 1994 - Aslan Maskhadov - Guerrilla

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By March 1995, Amir Khattab became leader of the Chechen resistance, yet Russian President Boris Yeltsin declared a unilateral cease-fire in April 1995.

Related Topics:
March - 1995 - Amir Khattab - Boris Yeltsin - April

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In June, 1995, Chechen guerrillas occupied a hospital in the southern Russian town of Budyonnovsk (in Stavropol Krai), taking over 1,000 hostages. Federal forces attempted to storm the hospital twice and failed. The guerrillas were allowed to leave after freeing their hostages.

Related Topics:
June - Budyonnovsk - Stavropol Krai

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This incident, televised accounts of Chechen soldiers torturing and executing captured federal soldiers and pro-federal Chechens, and the resulting widespread demoralization of the federal army, led to a federal withdrawal and the beginning of negotiations on March 21, 1996.

Related Topics:
March 21 - 1996

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Separatist President Dudayev was supposedly killed in a Russian rocket attack on April 21, 1996; there are versions that he was killed by his rivals in a fight for local power. Vice-president Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev became president. Negotiations on Chechen independence were repeatedly postponed by the federal government due to alleged terrorist attacks, and finally tabled in August, 1996.

Related Topics:
April 21 - 1996 - Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev - August

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Maskhadov was elected President in 1997 (only a minority of the population participated), but was unable to consolidate control as the country devolved into regional bickering among local teip leaders and organized criminal factions.

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