CHECHNYA

So we get to the end of our film tour in CHECHNYA, a country with such a hard past and hard future, but today’s youth persevere and even managed to organize a film festival for the first time in THE NORTH CAUCASUS. Delighted to screen in Dagestan, Grozny, Nazran, Nalchik: https://www.facebook.com/Фонд-продвижения-независимого-кино-Проектор-Живых-Историй-568913076783311/

On the first Chechen war:

On December 11, 1994, Russian troops invaded Chechnya, a small, oil-rich province that had declared its independence in 1991. Russia’s goal was to “establish constitutional order in Chechnya and to preserve the territorial integrity of Russia.” Russian Minister of Defense Pavel Grachev thought the attack would be a “blitzkrieg,” and he sent only two divisions of airborne troops. However, his plan failed and whole brigades were destroyed. A larger war erupted. Up to 100,000 people, including many civilians, died before the Russians finally retreated in 1996. A second Chechen war broke out in 1999 and ultimately allowed Russia to regain control of the territory.

on Chechnya today:

After years of fighting for independence, the Republic of Chechnya is now under the control of a Russian-appointed leader. Separatist groups continue to organize low-level guerrilla attacks, and jihadist groups also exist in the region. Despite this, the oil-rich Chechnya has been relatively stable under its current leadership. Critics accuse the government of human rights violations, including kidnappings and torture, as well as suppressing freedom of the press and other freedoms.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18188085

[Photo credit: Ignat Kushanrev, Unsplash.com.]