EN
In the first part of the article I describe the history of Chechen–Russian conflicts from the 18th c. to the middle of the 20th c. From the 16th century when tsar Ivan Grozny (meaning ‘Terrible’) ruled Russia regarded Caucasus as a buffer between the then Ottoman Turkey and Persia. As part of the long-advancing Russian fortified line, Grozny was founded as a fortress in 1818. Three Russian tsars sparked the war: Alexander I, Nicholas I and Alexander II. The leading Russian commanders in the Northern Caucasus were Aleksey Yermolov in 1816–1827 and Mikhail Vorontsow in 1844–1853. Between 1825-1833 there was little activity since Russia was engaged in wars against Turkey and Persia. After considerable successes in both wars, Russia resumed activity in the Caucasus. The Caucasian War of 1817–1864, also known as the Russian conquest of the Caucasus was an invasion of the Caucasus by the Russian Empire. The Russian invasion was met with fierce resistance led by Ghazi Muhammad, Gamzat-bek and Avar Imam Shamil who led the mountaineers from 1834 until 1859. Warfare in the Caucasus finally ended between 1856-1859 when the Russian army broke down the mountaineers’ resistance. The Caucasian War ended with Russia conquering the North Caucasus and Chechen people were removed into the Ottoman Empire. Chechen rebellions took place during the Russian-Turkish War, the Russian Revolution of 1905 and 1917 and Russian Civil War and during Collectivization. Under Soviet rule, Chechnya was combined with Ingushetia to form the autonomous republic of Chechen-Ingushetia in 1930. During World War II Stalin accused Chechens of collaboration with the Nazis. In 1944 Chechen and Ingush population of the republic were deported to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Siberia. The Chechens were allowed to return to their homeland in 1957 after Stalin’s death. In the second part of my article I describe difficult life of Chechen people during Soviet time. This part of the article is based on the stories of Chechen refugees.