Chechnya
Table of Contents: Regions / Cities / Other destinations / Culture and History / Travel to Chechnya, visa requirements Flights to Chechnya, airtickets By train By car Buses to Chechnya / Get around / Talk / Shopping, Chechnya souvenirs / Costs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Chechnya nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Learn / Work / Stay safe / Stay healthy / Respect / Contact More from Northern Caucasus: Chechnya More from Southern Russia: Northern Caucasus More from Russia: Central Russia, Far Eastern Russia, Northwestern Russia, Siberia, Southern Russia, Urals, Volga Region More from Eastern Europe: Baltic states, Belarus, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Ukraine More from Europe: Alps, Central Europe, Danube, Eastern Europe, European Union, Mediterranean Europe, Rhine, Western Europe |
Chechnya (Russian: Чечня́ Čečnja; Chechen: Нохчийчоь/Noxçiyçö) or Chechen Republic (Russian: Чече́нская Респу́блика Čečenskaja Respublika; Chechen: Нохчийн Республика Noxçiyn Respublika) is a republic within the Russian Federation.
Regions
Cities
- Grozny — the bombed out, wretched Chechen capital
- Aleroy — a mountain village that was the birthplace of the now deceased Rebel President Aslan Maskhadov and the site of major recent fighting
- Argun
- Day
- Gudermes — an oil town in eastern Chechnya
- Shali
- Urus-Martan
- Vedeno — a village in southeastern Chechnya near the Vedeno Gorge, center of Imam Shamil's rebellion against Tsarist incursions in the early 19th century and the birthplace of the notoriously brutal Shamil Basaev; widely considered one of the most dangerous areas of Chechnya
Other destinations
Culture and History
Nominally part of Russia since the early 19th century, fiercely independent Chechnya has been in a near constant state of rebellion ever since the approach of Russian power. At times throughout the history of this conflict, including very recent times, Chechen rebellion has spread to neighboring regions and threatened the specter of a multi ethnic Muslim rebellion across the entire northern Caucasus. What is most important for the traveler is that the anti-Russian violence as well as the Russian military response have been spectacularly brutal, purposely victimizing whomever is most vulnerable: the everyday Russian Federation citizens (Russian and Chechen alike) unfortunate enough to live here and, yes, outsiders foolhardy enough to walk into this war zone. The most traumatic episode of violence took place following WWII, when Stalin accused Chechens of collaborating with the Nazis and mass deported the entire ethnic Chechen populace to the cold steppe of northern Kazakhstan. Needless to say, provisions were not made to ensure that the deported Chechens had a good chance of surviving the deportation. Survivors were allowed to return under Khruschev. In one of the most horrific events of recent times, the radical Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev ordered his commandos to take an elementary school in Beslan, North Ossetia hostage, resulting in a shocking massacre of innocent schoolchildren. Chechnya has been safe for travel during periods of Soviet rule, but travelers, don't hold your breath. Wide-scale violence and barbarism have become the norm of this tragic country.
On a lighter note, Chechnya is a country of extraordinary beauty, full of majestic mountains with lush vegetation and "auls" (mountaintop villages) rising above the tree lines; rapid rivers have cut spectacular gorges throughout the region. Chechen culture is distinctly romantic and chivalric. It is at once steeped in Islamic Sufi mysticism and in the macho codes of hardy mountain tribes. The Chechen language is unrelated to any other in the world, and the Chechens have a distinct culture of Caucasian music and dance. The Chechens traditionally follow a strict code of honor and hospitality to accepted guests; unyielding hostility and violence towards enemies. All this could make Chechnya an intoxicating destination for the truly adventurous, but the present security situation should rule out this destination to all but the most foolish.
Travel to Chechnya, visa requirements
Flights to Chechnya, airtickets
Chechnya's airport is finally open again for the first time since the start of the war. Planes to Grozny leave 3 times a week from Moscow's Vnukovo airport. Estimated flying time is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
By train
A weekly train leaves from/to Moscow. This train is under heavy security by the Russian military so expect long delays and possible other hassles. Caution must be exercised when traveling by rail in Chechnya due to potential terrorist attacks. In 2005 a train traveling from Moscow to Chechnya was derailed during a bombing.
By car
Buses to Chechnya
Get around
Talk
Chechen and Russian are the two languages spoken in Chechnya. Remember that the political situation is very tense — a foreigner speaking Chechen will attract a lot of attention from the (dangerous) authorities; in general a foreigner speaking any language will probably attract too much attention from everyone else.
Shopping, Chechnya souvenirs
Chechnya is famous for its traditional swords and daggers.
Costs
Due to the war, Chechnya is VERY cheap. Do not expect to find what you are looking for. There is nothing to find in Chechnya except for carpets, daggers, etc. Supplies are also very limited.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
There are barely shops in Chechnya. However, some stores and cafès are slowly re-opening.
Chechnya nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
There are no night clubs or discos in Chechnya. However beer is sold on the street in Grozny. Be careful though, Chechens are muslims and therefore common sense should be used when drinking alcohol.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Currently, there are no hotels in Chechnya, so the only way is to stay with a family. The capital of Chechnya, Grozny is under heavy re-construction after the war and a five-star hotel is currently being built downtown.
Learn
Work
Stay safe
By traveling to Chechnya you are taking serious and unwarranted risks. Heavy military activity, terrorist bombings, kidnappings, and unexploded mines and munitions are widespread. Throughout the region, local criminal gangs routinely kidnap foreigners, including Americans, Canadians, and UK nationals, for ransom. Close contacts with the local population do not guarantee safety. Before visiting, consider watching the Russian popular film Борьба (War), which may dissuade you.
In the event of emergencies embassies can do very little, and/or more likely, will not send any help. All governments assume they will not be able to anything more for its citizens other than deliver messages.
If you stubbornly must experience Chechnya, please consider visiting the Pankisi area of Georgia instead. The security situation in this area has stabilized enough for reasonably safe travel, it looks very similar to Chechnya, and it is full of Chechen refugees who will be much more approachable than in dangerous Chechnya.
Stay healthy
Due to the ongoing conflict within Chechnya even the most basic necessities are not always available. In fact, it would be wise for one to expect that whatever may be needed will not be available and bring it along before traveling to the region.
Working plumbing, heat, and electricity are commodities in parts of Chechnya due to a failing infrastructure that is the result of years of ongoing war. Be sure to sanitize all water.
Respect
Remember that Chechnya is a strongly patriarchal Sunni Muslim society, so try to behave accordingly.
Contact
More from Northern Caucasus: Chechnya More from Southern Russia: Northern Caucasus More from Russia: Central Russia, Far Eastern Russia, Northwestern Russia, Siberia, Southern Russia, Urals, Volga Region More from Eastern Europe: Baltic states, Belarus, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Ukraine More from Europe: Alps, Central Europe, Danube, Eastern Europe, European Union, Mediterranean Europe, Rhine, Western Europe |
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