Introduction / History The Chechen live in the remote valleys of
the Caucasus Mountains of southern Russia between the Caspian
Sea and the Black Sea. They are a strong, determined people with
a long history of fighting for their independence. Soviet rule
dominated the Chechen during the first half of the 20th century.
For years the Chechen had based land tenure upon joint-clan
ownership. When the Soviets introduced the idea of property
ownership by society rather than by clan, the Chechen fiercely
opposed it. When World War II broke out, most Chechen opposed
the Germans and fought alongside the Red Army. Despite this, in
1944 many of the Chechen and their neighbors, the Ingush, were
deported to central Asia. They were allowed to return after
1968. On October 27,1991, the Chechen Republic declared its
independence. Since then Russian troops have invaded Chechenya
to regain control, and as a result much of the nation lies "in
ruin". What are their lives like? The Chechen span a variety of
occupations and income