Abstract
ISIS has been very successful in recruiting Russian citizens into its ranks. According to the federal Interior Ministry, as of March 2016, 3417 people had joined the organisation. Why has ISIS propaganda turned out to be so appealing to the Russian Muslims? How does the prior history of armed conflict in the North Caucasus come into play? What is the Russian government doing in terms of prevention and exit programmes, and how to make these efforts effective? The chapter will address these questions, offering insights of an analyst and practitioner based on over 200 interviews with family members of foreign fighters; government officials; religious, community and civil society leaders; and former radical individuals.
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Notes
- 1.
Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty. 2017. Report: Russia, Former Soviet Region Largest Source For Foreign Fighters in Syria, Iraq. https://www.rferl.org/a/soufan-report-iraq-syria-russian-fighters/28813611.html
- 2.
The Guardian.2018.Chechnya attacks carried out by children as young as 11, say officials. Islamic state blamed for targeting minors with online recruiting campaigns. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/21/chechnya-attacks-carried-out-by-children-as-young-as-11-say-officials
- 3.
Shamil, Moshe Gammer. 1988. Мусульманское сопротивление царизму. Завоевание Чечни и Дагестана [Muslim resistance to the tsar. The conquest of Chechnya and Dagestan]. Dunlop, John. 1998. Russia Confronts Chechnya: Roots of a Separatist Conflict. Richmond, Walter. 2008. The North- west Caucasus: Past, Present, and Future.
- 4.
International Crisis Group report. 2015. Chechnya: The Inner Abroad? https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/caucasus/russianorth-caucasus/chechnya-inner-abroad
- 5.
In 2010 a group of prominent Chechen field commanders challenged Umarov allegedly for the neglect of the national cause, and he announced his resignation. This schism was quickly overcome and the renegades reaffirmed their allegiance to Umarov. The Caucasus Knot, 14 August 2010. В “Имарате Кавказ” произошел раскол A schism happened in Imarat Kavkaz. http://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/172981/
- 6.
Dagestan is a multi-ethnic republic with the most ancient Islamic tradition in Russia, currently hosting the largest and the most vibrant Salafi community of the country.
- 7.
Paraszcauk, Joanna. 2015. From Chechnya to Syria. Akhmad Medinsky Addresses ‘Vilayat Kavkaz’ From Baiji. http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=23950
- 8.
Kebekov, Aliaskhab. The Caucasus Knot, 21 April, 2015. Кебеков Алиасхаб Алибулатович Kebekov Aliaskhab Alibulatovich. http://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/239677/
- 9.
For a discussion about radicalisation as concepts, see Mark, Sedgwick. 2010. The Concept of Radicalisation as a Source of Confusion. Terrorism and Political Violence 22: 479–494; Peter R, Neumann. 2013. The Trouble with Radicalisation. International Affairs 89 no. 4: 873–893.
- 10.
Author’s interview. February 2017. Community leader, South of Dagestan.
- 11.
Author’s interview. December 2015. Salafi activist, Makhachkala.
- 12.
Author’s interview, February 2017. Salafi leader, Makhachkala.
- 13.
Authors interview. January 2016. Dagestani journalist, Istanbul.
- 14.
Author’s interview. November 2015. Kumyk national activist, Leninkent.
- 15.
Author’s interview. February, 2017. Chechen journalist and university professor, Grozny, Chechen republic.
- 16.
Author’s interviews. February 2017. Grozny.
- 17.
Author’s interview, mother of a woman who resettled to Iraq as a family member. Grozny, Chechen republic, May 2018
- 18.
Author’s interviews, November 2015, December 2017. Wives/widows of former insurgents, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Chechnya.
- 19.
Author’s interview. November 2015. Wife of a sentenced insurgent, south of Dagestan.
- 20.
Author’s interview. March 2016. Senior Salafi leader, Makhachkala.
- 21.
Author’s interview. February 2017. Salafi leader, Makhachkala.
- 22.
Author’s skype interview. December 2017. With her defence lawyer.
- 23.
Author’s interview. November 2015. Human rights lawyer, Makhachkala.
- 24.
Author’s interview. February 2017. School teacher, Makhachkala.
- 25.
Author’s interview. February 2017. Resident of Kabardino-Balkariya, Nalchik.
- 26.
Author’s interview. February 2017. Civic activist, Kabardino-Balkariya, Nalchik.
- 27.
Nazarova, Nina; Prosvirava, Olga. 2017. For washing and cooking: in Dagestan a woman rescued from ISIS is under trial. BBC. http://www.bbc.com/russian/features-42426417.
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Sokirianskaia, E. (2019). Russia and ISIS: A New Phase of the Old Conflict?. In: Jayakumar, S. (eds) Terrorism, Radicalisation & Countering Violent Extremism. Palgrave Pivot, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1999-0_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1999-0_8
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