Chechnya, a predominantly Muslim region located on the northern slopes of the Caucasus mountain range, is one of 21 republics that make up the Russian Federation. When the Soviet Union began to collapse in 1991 it tried to break away from Russia by declaring independence.
Years of fighting with Russian forces ensued, eventually driving the rebels underground. Chechen rebels staged increasingly bloody suicide bombings and hostage-taking raids around Russia. While the situation in Chechnya has improved in recent years, sporadic attacks continue. Moscow and Washington say the rebels have links to Islamic terror groups such as al-Qaeda and have fought Western forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
