FP: So how serious is the Caucasus problem then? It can’t really exist independently anyway, can it? It doesn’t have an economy after all.
Preobrazhenskiy: Well Jamie, the Northern Caucasus is an ill-coordinated, multi-ethnic and multi-religious region. Its religions are not only Islam with it various fractions, but also Christianity and paganism. Its republics of Dagestan, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Northern Ossetia are claiming each other’s territories.
Throughout history, not all people of the Northern Caucasus were forced to merge with the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Some of them did it voluntarily: the Kabardins, Ossetians, and, partially, Dagestanians. The Ossetians are by and large pro-Russian now. They are grateful to Russia for placing Southern Ossetia under Russian political control, the fact that was viewed as the restoration of “The Great Ossetia”. The Ossetians are about to become the promoters of Russian interests in the Caucasus.
The economy of Northern Caucasus is not so much developed. It depends on subsidies from Moscow, making 70-90 per cent of budget of some republics. If they become independent, who will feed them? America? Turkey?
But Chechnya is an exception. It has oilfields. It may exist independently. But Russia will never allow it. Especially nowadays, when the Kremlin has proclaimed the course of restoration of the Soviet Union, while the first Chechen war of 1994 began on the wave of enthusiasm caused by the dissolution of the USSR.
The Kremlin has put its plans into practice. Recently, the Ukraine returned under its control, probably Kirgizstan is next, and sooner or later it will be Georgia’s turn.
FP: Tell us about Georgia.
Preobrazhenskiy: Georgia is a delicate region where interests of America and Russia come into conflict. Chechnya and Georgia have a common border. So the Kremlin will pay more attention to this border. It is very significant and symbolic that during the Georgian war of August 2008, two Chechen battalions “East” and “West” were fighting on the Russian side. Not on the Georgian one.
FP: What is the story on the Chechen terrorists?
Preobrazhenskiy: In Russia, the potential terrorists have had the ground cut from under them. It was done under Putin, who invented the method to cripple the terrorists. In the case of acts of terror, the Russians mostly ignore the victimizing of hostages and concentrate on killing all terrorists. Of course, for the West, this tactic is not acceptable, but in Russia it is effective. It makes terrorism senseless.
The price of human life in Russia is very low. It is our national tradition which has been retained even now, in spite of the shrinking population.
The acts of terror are intended to not just murder people, but to achieve some political goals: to seed panic and to inspire people’s dissatisfaction with their government which can not defend them. Bu Russians do not even expect such protection. They know that the government will never defend them, and it is our tradition too.
The Russia government does not have any special obligation to its people. But the people have a lot of obligations to their government, and army service, aimed at defending the government.
It is only the West, where high positioned leaders are bargaining with terrorists in order to save hostages’ lives. The presidents are afraid of not being reelected. And is it possible that in Russia somebody would say “Let us not reelect Medvedev because he could not defend us from terrorism”? No such a slogan will not get supporters. And also there is no mechanism of people influencing the presidential elections. Russians know that no matter how they vote, the Kremlin’s candidate will win the elections.
Chechens are not chauvinistic. Though sometimes they suffer in Russia some unofficial discrimination like illegal detentions and beatings in the police, they do not hate Russian people.
They understand that common Russians are not responsible for their government. It can not be influenced by the common people.
The recent acts of terror in Moscow have not achieved a single terrorist goal. What did they want to demonstrate and to whom? Did they it stir up anti-governmental sentiments among Russians? Not at all.
FP: It is interesting that the terrorists chose the Lubyanka station where the FSB is located, yes?
Preobrazhenskiy: Yes it is interesting, but the FSB itself did not suffer, as usual. The Lubyanka is a nickname for the FSB, as Langley is the CIA. So we can see something symbolic there.
Maybe this act of terror was needed by somebody in Moscow to demonstrate something to somebody. The real governmental life in Russia is so secret that we can only guess.
FP: Konstantin Preobrazhenskiy, thank you for joining Frontpage Interview.
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Geez, dont we want the Kremlin in strict control of Chehcnya? Do we really want another islamic republic nurturing al Qaeda and taliban types freely and openly??
This is an instructive post, but one rather important theme that defines much of the Chechen autonomist movement has been left out, namely aggressive and vicious Islam. Whatever may or may not be Putin's response (and one would have to say it appears effective, on balance), the Chechen Muslim terrorists masterminded some spectacular terrorist actions, including the seizure of the theater in Moscow and of the school inn which they killed dozens of children. It should also be noted that the Chechen terrorists were supported by Turkey, and indirectly by the US, which was about to grant some formal recognition to their leadership, something that was dropped after the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.
It good to bash Russia, but for those of us with enough sense or even fealty to the success of the USA, and even if we end up restoring Americanist leadership, aiding Chechnian rebels will bring as much benefit as aiding the Taliban. Russia is facing a jihad as is: Israel, Nigeria, Serbia, Greece, Cyprus, India, Cabada, England, France, Germany, Spain, Philippinnes, Lebanon, USA etc. The jihadist enemy of my enemy is my enemy.
*ahem*
May I remind all to whom it may concern… The Chechens are Muslims. Whatever Russia's faults may be, a publication that holds the West to be worth defending ought to be siding with them against the Muslims, not the other way round.
Don't repeat Clinton's mistake in Serbia.
Patriots should not be used as suicide bombers, only idiots taken from a mental ward. Patriots are too valuable to die blowing themselves up, they are needed to lead the people. Idiots can not even lead themselves and do whatever they are told, they can be made useful by blowing themselves up next to infidels or apostates.
It is unfortunate that those in power in Russia seem determined to take an antagonistic posture with much of the world. I suppose there are understandable historical reasons for this, but I think a modicum of sincere outreach would lead to greater freedom and prosperity.
As the author says, Russian leaders aren't interested in that it seems. It is the old paradigm of raw power divorced from respect for human life that drives them. This is a cue that we must remain on guard.
Frankly, I couldn't care less about the goings on in Chechnia. One less Islamic country that will send terrorists abroad. By the way, the Chechens were pro Nazi, and many of their men were repatriated to Kazakhstan in the second WW.