U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Islamic Terrorism and the Question of National Liberation, or Problems of Contemporary Chechen Terrorism

NCJ Number
212232
Journal
Studies in Conflict & Terrorism Volume: 28 Issue: 6 Dated: November-December 2005 Pages: 515-532
Author(s)
Irina Mukhina
Date Published
November 2005
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the connection between the Chechen Wars and the extent of Chechen terrorism.
Abstract
The study of terrorism, in general, is a very problematic area of research, especially considering the difficulty of obtaining reliable information concerning various terrorist activities. The study of Chechen terrorism is further complicated by the rhetoric chosen by the Chechen rebels. The majority of Chechen rebels in the territory of Chechnya and surrounding areas argue that they engage in a war of freedom, not terrorism. This explanation has become a shield utilized by terrorists to justify their actions when apprehended. Since the fights of terrorism and the fights for freedom have merged, it has become difficult to separate the two. As this paper tries to show, an analysis of available information on Chechen terrorism demonstrates the close connection between the Chechen Wars and the extent of Chechen terrorism. 50 Notes, Appendix A-C