Even worse, he played into the hands of proponents of racist stereotypes, already prevalent in Russian society. Yet Russia has not hesitated to employ the good offices of convicted assassins and well-known crime bosses in trying to undermine Dzhokhav. All along, Russia has failed to recognize the roots of the Chechen conflict, namely its own mistreatment of the Chechens. Moreover, Moscow in the last few months has launched an extraordinary disinformation campaign. Naked lies have been aired nightly on Russian state television.
Old habits die slow.
Chechnya, though, is unfortunate enough to be distant from and incomprehensible to the West. Moreover, it is paying the price of being Muslim. Chechnya is a colony, fully deserving decolonization. Too many Mountaineers, as the people of the region are known, have been Russified, and either lost their identity or their resolve. Others have proved adept in toeing the line and guaranteeing their survival.