CRSV: Second Chechen War

This case note documents the occurrence of sexual violence in violent conflict. It contains explicit mentions of different forms of sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.

Background of the conflict

The Second Chechen War took place in Chechnya, and in the border regions of the North Caucus between the Russian Federation and the breakaway Chechen Republic of Ichkeria between August 1999 and April 2009.

The war began in August 1999, when actors from Chechnya entered Dagestan, in Russia (Allaman, 2000). In September, there were a series of apartment bombings in Russian cities, killing over 300 people (Baiev & Daniloff, 2005). While Russia blamed the Chechens, no Chechen to responsibility for the attacks. Russian military and pro-Russian paramilitary forces seized the Chechen capital A Grozny, following a siege in winter 1999 – 2000. Russia established direct rule over Chechnya in May 2000, though the Chechen militant resistance continued to fight it. Several civilians were attacked during their fights. By 2009, the fighting ceased, with official government operations in Chechnya ending officially. When the exiled leader of the separatist government, Akhmed Zakayev called for the end of the armed resistance against the Chechen police force, the war ended. The precise casualties of the war remain unclear, but the death toll is estimated to have closed 60,000.

Prevalence of sexual violence

Rape and sexual violence were common during the war. Reports show that most such violence was carried out by Russian soldiers and pro-Russian paramilitary forces in Chechnya (Human Rights Wtach, 2006). During one of their village sweeps, Russian federal forces carried out mass rapes and large-scale sexual violence, in what is now called the Novye Aldi massacre (Human Rights Watch, 2006; Karush, 2006). Rape and sexual violence were carried out at checkpoints, in villages, and in detention centres (Knight & Narozhna, 2005). In addition, the fear of rape was so pervasive that many families fled to protect the female members in their families (Sylvaine & Alexandra, 2000). The climate of impunity was exacerbated by inaction on part of the law enforcement and security sector (Knight & Narozhna, 2005).

Basis of the Use of Sexual Violence

Rape and sexual violence were used as deliberate war tactics to spread fear and to intimidate populations. It was particularly used to humiliate women and girls, and by extension, their families and communities, given the stigma associated with rape and sexual violence. Further, it was also used to displace populations, effectively contributing toward a campaign of ethnic erasure. In many instances, rape and sexual violence were also used as forms of torture and cruel treatment to target, intimidate, and humiliate men and boys, as well.

References

Allaman, J. (2000). La guerre de Tchétchénie ou l'irrésistible ascension de Vladimir Poutine (in French). Genève: Georg Éditeur.

Human Rights Watch (2006). Russia Condemned for Chechnya Killings. https://www.hrw.org/news/2006/10/12/russia-condemned-chechnya-killings

Karush, S. (2000). Witness to Aldi Massacre Tells Story of Terror. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-45880914.html

Knight, W. A., & Narozhna, T. (2005). Rape and Other War Crimes in Chechnya: Is There a Role for the International Criminal Court?  https://www.yorku.ca/soi/_Vol_5_1/_PDF/Knight_Narozhna.pdf

Sylvaine, P. & Alexandra, S. (2000). "Grozny, ville fantôme". L'Express (in French).  https://www.lexpress.fr/informations/grozny-ville-fantome_637256.html