More on the total obliteration of Chechnya.
Some population data, from the Russian newspaper "Kommersant."
At the time of the 1989 census, there were 1,270,000 people living in Checheno-Ingushetia. When Chechnya & Ingushetia split (amicably) in 1991, that left slightly over 1,000,000 people in Chechnya.
From 1994 to the present, the dreadful conditions of war and of the war's aftermath led to mass emigration. By 1996, there were only about 600,000 left. By January, 1999, that number had fallen to 350,000, and by August, to 320,000. According to the most recent estimate (early October), the population had shrunk to 200,000. Given the continuing refugee flow, that number is probably down to 150,000 now.
Some Chechens of my acquaintance insist that the population of the republic is being deliberately underestimated, for political reasons. Could be. But if not, it looks as if the republic is in real danger of complete depopulation...
Take another look at the Russian concept of "territorial integrity." For them, it is all territory; the people who live on it do not matter. When the Russians say "Chechnya is part of the Russian Federation" they do NOT mean that "Chechens are Russian citizens (who should be accorded all the protection of the law)". No, it is quite true: they want Chechnya without the Chechens. |
