Pro-Government Militias
Pro-government Chechen militia (Russia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | yes |
| PGM ID Number: | 117 |
| Country: | Russia |
| Date formed: | Dec. 25, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The pro-government Chechen Militia was first mentioned in December 1999, when it was enlisted by Russian security forces to assist them in the attack on Grozny. Its leader was freed in October 1999 from prison so he could take part in the offensive. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | |
| Termination Type(s): | none |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no information |
| Former Armed Group? | no information |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: | no information | Main Creating Government Institution: | none |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution); sub-national government |
| If link to party, name of party: | |
| Training and Equipment: | no |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | unclear |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | unclear |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | ethnic |
| Primary Membership: | ethnic |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | nationalist |
| Location: | Grozny |
| Force Strength: | [800, 1500] |
| Target(s): | rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | Chechens (Russia) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | given |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The group’s main purpose was to assist the regular forces in the attack on Chechen rebels, especially in Grozny. It served as an advance-force, followed by the regular forces. It seems that it served to test the defense before regular forces entered the assaulted area. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group was allegedly active in house-burnings and was probably behind the kidnapping and murder of a human rights activist investigating on this topic. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | The leader of the group helped the government after he was freed from prison for that purpose. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | The pro-government Chechen Militia had 1,500 fighters on December 25, 1999. Another source from December 30, 1999 estimates the force at 800 fighters. In July 2000, a report mentions the use of 200 of the fighters, but without mentioning the total fighting force. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The group is lead by N.N., a former mayor of Grozny who had been convicted for embezzlement and been freed by Yeltsin in October 1999 to assist in the attack on rebels. In 2000, N.N. was appointed deputy administrator in the Chechen government and was given the responsibility for security. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.