Pro-Government Militias
Chechen Death Squads (Russia)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | yes |
| PGM ID Number: | 119 |
| Country: | Russia |
| Date formed: | Jan. 1, 1999 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | The Chechen Death Squads emerged from the regular military forces at the beginning of the Second Chechen War. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | The group is not mentioned after 2005. |
| 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) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | unclear |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | yes |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | unclear |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | security forces |
| Primary Membership: | noncivilian |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Chechnya |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group; ethnic group |
| Purpose(s): | intimidation of ethnic/religious groups; intimidation of civilians; fight insurgents |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | Chechens (Russia) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | given |
| Ethnic Membership: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Purpose: | Chechens (Russia) |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | given |
Other Information
| Other Information: |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The Chechen Death Squads’ purpose is to intimidate Chechens and fight against Chechen rebels. It killed Chechen civilians and participated in fights against Chechen rebels, as such fulfilling its purpose. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The Chechen Death Squads are regularly targeting Chechen civilians. Their actions include killings and alongside regular military forces they are involved in the running of torture centres, rape, torture and kidnappings of civilians. They reportedly killed women and children. One news source suggests it was tasked with committing genocide against Chechens. Committing atrocities against civilians is one of its purposes and this is tolerate by the government. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | kidnapping/abductions; killing; torture; sexual violence |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no information |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The Chechen Death Squads are organized groups (not individuals). They are strongly linked to the military and work for the Russian main intelligence department. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.