The North Caucasus

Our Work

Instability has spread beyond Chechnya to other areas of the North Caucasus. The risk of full-blown war in the region has heightened, and human rights abuses – committed by both terrorists and Russian officials – have only increased. Yet despite the continuing violence, the region’s growing volatility, and the destabilizing war in neighboring Georgia, the international community has done little to address the situation at hand. In an effort to broaden international attention to and understanding of this issue, Dr. Sarah Mendelson has launched a series of regional projects within CSIS’s Human Rights and Security Initiative.

New Report: Violence in the North Caucasus:
2009, A Bloody Year 
Released January 14, 2010  

The year 2009 was especially violent in the North Caucasus.  In those twelve months, CSIS tracked more than 1100 incidents of violence – compared to 795 in 2008 – many of which were deadly.  Most alarming: the number of suicide bombings in the North Caucasus nearly quadrupled from 2008, with the majority occurring in Chechnya.  In this report, we present our findings, all of which illustrate the scope and scale of instability in the region. 

A Tragic Day for Human Rights in Russia: The Kidnapping and Murder of Natalia Estemirova

Yesterday was a tragic day for the rule of law and human rights in Russia.  We were shattered to hear of the murder of Natalia Estemirova, Memorial’s lead researcher in Chechnya.  We send our deepest condolences to her family and her colleagues.  Her death is a tragedy not only for her family and her colleagues but for all who want to see justice, stability, and prosperity take hold in the North Caucasus. [continued]