BESLAN SCHOOL HOSTAGE CRISIS Chen Yun Marcel Wong Edward Neo Toh Zheng Xiang

REASONS  Historical Factors  Chechnya conflict has been on since the 18th century when the Russian czar attempted to take over the region  In 1944, Chechen people were deported to Central Asia and Siberia by Stalin, under suspicion that the Chechen collaborated with Nazi to overthrow the Soviets.

REASONS  Geopolitical and Economic Factors › Chechnya is a region with abundant natural gas, limestone, gypsum, sulfur and most importantly, oil. Chechnya is also a key site to connecting the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea, makes Chechnya a significant juncture for oil pipelines. › Russian presence gives the ability to interfere and make profit with Chechnya's oil industry, which would be the motivation for suppressing Chechnya's struggle for independence.

1991 – COLLAPSE OF USSR

THE USSR IS SPLIT INTO 11 INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES

1993 – ESTABLISHMENT OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION

RUSSIA BECAME A FEDERATION IN 1993, WITH 89 FEDERAL SUBJECTS (83 AFTER 2008 MERGERS) RUSSIA BECAME A FEDERATION IN 1993, WITH 89 FEDERAL SUBJECTS (83 AFTER 2008 MERGERS)

THE CHECHEN REPUBLIC (CHECHNYA) IS ONE OF THESE STATES (#20)

INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT  An independence movement in Chechnya – the All-National Congress of the Chechen People, rallied for the recognition of Chechenya as an independent nation in 1991  The Russian Federation opposed this  Yeltsin sent 40,000 troops to Chechnya in 1994 and took control of Chechnya's capital Grozny in March 1995 after a bloody war.

1994 – 1996 – FIRST CHECHEN WAR

FIRST CHECHEN WAR  Russian forces attempted to prevent Chechnya from seceding in 1994  However, fierce resistance by the rebels and costly strategic defeats ultimately led to the signing of the 1996 ceasefire and subsequently the 1997 peace treaty  Thus, Chechnya gained sovereignty

INTER-WAR PERIOD

INTERWAR PERIOD  Chechnya struggled to maintain sovereignty and rebuild its infrastructure  Russia helped it by sending money, but most of it were taken by authorities and warlords  Its economy remained devastated, and kidnapping, political violence and Islamic extremism were widespread

INTERWAR PERIOD  Chechnya-based Islamic extremists carried out apartment bombings in Moscow and invaded the Russian republic of Dagestan in 1999 to aid separatist rebels  The invasion is crushed and the above events became the Russian justification for the Second Chechen War

1999 – PRESENT – SECOND CHECHEN WAR

 In September 1999 Russia responded by sending 100,000 troops and taking over most of Chechnya.  In 2000, and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared rule over Chechnya, appointing Akhmad Kadyrov as leader of Chechnya.  However, insurgency in that area continued to this day

SECOND CHECHEN WAR  Attacking the town of Gudermes in 2001  Killing Russian officers and shooting down helicopters in 2002  Seizing a Moscow theater, and suicide bombing in 2002 and 2003.

2004 – BESLAN SCHOOL HOSTAGE CRISIS

DAY 1 – 1 ST SEPTEMBER 2004  The terrorists storm School Number One (SNO) in Beslan  This date is chosen because it is the start of the school year where new pupils are welcomed  1200 people are taken hostage in the gym  Explosives are placed around the school  Russian forces surround the school  Negotiations with the terrorists fail

DAY 2 – 2 ND SEPTEMBER 2004  Second round of negotiations begin  Negotiations fail again, but babies and their mothers are released  Terrorists fire 2 RPG rounds at the security forces  Food, water and medicine are delivered to the hostages after continued negotiations throughout the night

DAY 3 – 3 RD SEPTEMBER 2004  Attackers allow medical workers to retrieve dead bodies, but fire on them when they approach the building  Two explosives are detonated in the gym, killing and wounding many and partially destroying one wall.  Fleeing woman and children are shot and killed. Only 30 manage to escape.

DAY 3 – 3 RD SEPTEMBER 2004  Russian forces, including the Spetsnaz and several T-72 tanks proceed to attack the terrorists.  Civilians used as human shields are killed by the Russian forces in the attack

AFTERMATH  A total of 334 hostages are killed, of which 186 of them are children  27 of the terrorists are killed, and 3 of them are taken alive  At least 50 people from the security forces are dead  Hundreds more are wounded severely, resulting in permanent disablilities

SIGNIFICANCE

TIME  September 1 st  Start of the Russian school year, referred to as "First September" or Day of Knowledge  Parents and other relatives accompanied the child to attend school ceremonies

LOCATION  Chose to attack School Number One (SNO), one of 7 schools in Beslan  Nur-Pashi Kulayev claimed attack was designed for maximum outrage with the purpose of igniting a wider war in the Caucasus

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