10 January 2002 SummaryRussian military forces ended their latest Chechen security sweep Jan. 8. The event was notable for its lack of attention internationally. Russia has successfully persuaded the United States to constrain international support for the Chechens, which will not end the war but which will set Moscow firmly on the road to respectability.
Analysis
Russian military forces began to withdraw Jan. 8 from the town of Argun in Chechnya, ending the most recent security sweep in the Chechen war that began in August 1999. Bloody Chechen ambushes and equally bloody Russian sweeps have been the norm for well over a year. The conflict likely remains just as intractable now as it has ever been.
What has changed, however, is the West's attitude toward the alleged Russian atrocities that seem to go hand in hand with its military actions. Since Russia began proving itself invaluable to the U.S. anti-terror campaign, American pressure regarding the Chechnya issue has all but disappeared.
Russian military forces began to withdraw Jan. 8 from the town of Argun in Chechnya, ending the most recent security sweep in the Chechen war that began in August 1999. Bloody Chechen ambushes and equally bloody Russian sweeps have been the norm for well over a year. The conflict likely remains just as intractable now as it has ever been.
What has changed, however, is the West's attitude toward the alleged Russian atrocities that seem to go hand in hand with its military actions. Since Russia began proving itself invaluable to the U.S. anti-terror campaign, American pressure regarding the Chechnya issue has all but disappeared.
This political trade-off will legitimize Russia's actions and raise its international standing.
The most recent Russian military sweeps began Dec. 30 in the area of the village of Tsotsin-Yurt. Human rights organizations assert that Russia is again engaging in abuses throughout the region, such as murder, torture and arbitrary executions. Such charges have led the international community to put considerable pressure on Moscow throughout the two-and-a-half-year campaign.
Pre-Sept. 11, the Bush administration also used heavy diplomatic pressure on Moscow to seek a peace settlement in Chechnya, to investigate more
The most recent Russian military sweeps began Dec. 30 in the area of the village of Tsotsin-Yurt. Human rights organizations assert that Russia is again engaging in abuses throughout the region, such as murder, torture and arbitrary executions. Such charges have led the international community to put considerable pressure on Moscow throughout the two-and-a-half-year campaign.
Pre-Sept. 11, the Bush administration also used heavy diplomatic pressure on Moscow to seek a peace settlement in Chechnya, to investigate more