Narrating Identity Identity Construction and Fragmentation in German Sadulaev’s Ja – čečenec! and Šalinskij rejd

The collapse of the Soviet Union and the Chechen wars were for German Sadulaev, a writer of Chechen origin, the starting point for a broad reflection on identity and nationality in the post-Soviet era. This paper aims to scrutinise how issues related to identity are addressed in two works by the author, the collection of short stories Ja – čečenec! [I Am a Chechen, 2006] and the novel Šalinskij rejd [The Raid on Shali, 2010]. Specific attention is paid to the role that narratives play in the considered works. In this respect, the paper first considers ethnicity/nationality as a narrative construct. Then, it deals with fragmentation of identity self-narrative as the consequence of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Finally, it considers the act of narrating as an attempt to hold together collective and personal identities.

To Be or Not to Be a Chechen? The Second Generation of Chechens in Europe and Their Choices of Identity

Approximately a quarter of Chechnya's population left the republic due to the Russo-Chechen wars and the brutality of the regime established after them. Many of the Chechen migrants settled in Europe where cultural, religious, and social differences compelled them to go through the daunting process of identity negotiation. Although most of the first-generation Chechen migrants managed to preserve their original identity, this was not always the case for their children. This article aims to identify the factors that determine the identity preferences of second-generation Chechens in Europe. The paper presents three cases which illustrate very different outcomes of the identity formation and negotiation processes. This ethnographic study concludes that home education impacted the identity choices of the migrants' children the most.

The Development of Islamic Knowledge and Tourism in the Modern Life of North Caucasus

The chapter examines the place and role of Islam in the socio-political life of the peoples in the North Caucasus, especially in the Chechen Republic, as well as relations between the state and religious organizations and society, and examines the role of Islam in the political and socio-spiritual life of the region. The work analyzes the struggles of Chechen people for independence, which were called the Chechen wars and given the cliché of Jihad, reflected in the revival of political organizations and activities. The chapter shows that having experienced two very dreadful wars it is still possible to build a strong, sovereign, safe republic with a very low criminal rate, and written a long stand strategy for the socio-economic development. It is worthy to say that the strategy has clearly defined basic priorities and development vector of the Chechen Republic until 2025 as a mechanism for their initial coordination, where the main priority in the tourism sector, since the republic has a great potential for it.

THE ISSUE OF THE PANKIS VALLEY IN RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND GEORGIA IN THE CHECHEN WARS

The article examines the problem of the Pankis Valley in relations between Russia and Georgia in the Chechen wars, which has not yet been studied in socio-political science. The article discusses in more detail the issues of the peculiarities of the Pankis Valley and its population, and its ties with Chechnya, Georgia's support for Chechen militants, wide political representation, informational opportunities and media of Chechens in Georgia, Chechnya's rapprochement with Georgia and international Islamic terrorism, echo in the Pankis valley and etc. At the same time, the article also pays attention to debatable, controversial, conflicting issues.

Rola Szamila Basajewa w walce o niepodległość Czeczenii

Shamil Basayev was one of the most famous fighters, taking part in the Russian–Chechen wars. Thanks to his experience and skills acquired during the wars in Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh, he took part in battles that were decisive for the war. His steadfastness and attitude dur-ing the rally on Budionnowsk in 1995, lead to the negotiations that end-ed the first Chechen war. The raid on Dagestan that Basayev undertook with Emir Chattab, was one of the deciding moments in his history. He not only lost his glory, but his actions caused the outbreak of the Second War in 1999. Also because of his ruthless tactics and being the master-mind of the most horrific terrorist attacks in Russia (Moscow Theatre 2002, Bieslan School 2004), Basayev became Putin’s sworn enemy. His actions were complicating the already tense relations between Moscow and Grozny. The fight in the name of religion and extremism distorted the image of Basayev as a freedom fighter, making him a ruthless terror-ist, ready to sacrifice the innocent in the name of his own ideas. Due to his attitude, Basayev remains one of the symbols of the conflict in the Caucasus region.