Vladimir Putin came to power in 1999 promising to impose control in the North Caucasus where the Russian army had been humiliated in a war against Chechen rebels in 1994-96.
He carpet-bombed Grozny, the Chechen capital, ignored torture and murders by Russian soldiers and paid off local warlords to achieve this stability and, for the past 15 years, Chechnya and neighbouring Ingushetia and Dagestan have been relatively peaceful and terrorist attacks in Moscow limited.
But now even Kremlin loyalist commentators have begun to warn that this control is beginning to slip.
“It is clear that there is a problem with Islamist terrorism, and it is very serious. We need action from the authorities,” said Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser.
Stability in Dagestan has also become more important to Putin since he made a deal with Iran in 2022 to receive drones. Many of these drone shipments are sent across the Caspian Sea to Makhachkala.
Sarah Jane Thompson and Alexander Barrett were found dead following a major search and rescue operationNewsJoseph Timan Politics writer14:48, 19 Sep 2024(Image:
Kylie Minogue has announced her biggest tour in more than a decade - as well as a new album.The pop star's Tension tour will open in her home coun
Brits have been given tips to improve their holiday experiences, with some pieces of advice also aiming to help the locals in popular holiday destinations.In-de
Related: Ukraine’s attack is only way to force Russia to negotiating table, Zelensky aide saysFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your in