The Role of NGOs in Chechen Conflict Research Paper

The Role of NGOs in Chechen skirmish - Research Paper Ex fatWhen the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Chechnya, which was then part Chechen-Ingush independent Republic in Northern Caucasus, also declared its independence. It was in December 1994 that the Russian Federation launched a military operation against the rebelling state. This ended in 1996 with a humiliating defeat for Russia, and Aslan Maskhadov was elected as Chechen President in 1997. However, despite of peace treaty signed between the two countries, Chechnya relapsed in a turmoil that the fairly elected president was unable to control. This was due to the destruction from the struggle, failure of Russia to provide promised war reparations, external interference by Islamic radicals, swelling crime and inter-Chechen enmities, which granted excuse to the Russian select Minister Vladimir Putin to launch a second war against Chechnya in 1999, in name of combating international terrorism, notwithstanding with an obvious p urpose of forcing Chechnya back into the Federation (Faurby, 1999).The combat continues as a guerrilla war with ample loss of life and resources on both sides and bleak prospects for hostilities to end soon. International humanitarian laws and human rights laws keep been extensively violated on both sides. Reports estimate death toll to be around 80000 since, darn the number of displaced to the neighbouring Dagestan is estimated to be 300000 (IRC, c.2006). Russian political leaders were insistent that the warfare was an internal matter for Russia, something that many a(prenominal) western leaders were eager to approve, as they did not want the Chechen conflict to hinder their relations (Cornell, 1999). This was not only politically problematic, but also a breach of international laws. However, as the Non political Organization (NGOs) like the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International increase their activities in human rights expanse by bringing to light the violations and lob bying