Chechnya

The Chechen Republic or, informally, Chechnya  is a  part of federal Russia. It is located in Southeastern part of Europe, in the Northern Caucasus mountains, in the North Caucasian Federal District. According to Russian state statistics , as of 1 January 2010, the population was 1,267,740 .

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Chechen-Ingush ASSR was split into two—the Republic of Ingushetia and Republic of Chechnya. The latter proclaimed the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, which sought independence. Following the First Chechen War with Russia, Chechnya gained de facto independence as the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.

Russian federal control was restored during the Second Chechen War. Since 1990, the Chechen Republic has had many legal, military, and civil conflicts involving separatist movements and pro-Russian authorities.