Tactical evolutions of modern Chechen resistance

Abstract

After a short-lived victory fighting against Russian rule, Chechnya was again reconquered in 2000. Thus launched the modern Chechen resistance, which has taken on three forms. This study examines how these iterations, the Ichkerian Government-in-Exile, Imarat Kavkaz, and 1ADAT, have evolved. To assess how effectively they have opposed the rule of the Kadyrov regime in Chechnya, this paper adopts the “pillars of power” framework. It concludes that the tactical evolution of the three iterations can at least in part be explained by the effectiveness of targeting the regime’s pillars, as each movement moves away from ineffective tactics of its predecessor.