1944 Stalin deports Chechens to Siberia and Central Asia, alleges they collaborated with Germany during World War II
1957 Khrushchev allows Chechens to return. Restores Chechnya’s autonomous status.
1991 Soviet Union collapses. Dzhokhar Dudayev proclaims Chechnya independent of Russia, is elected president.
1994 Russia sends troops into Chechnya. Nearly 1,00,000 killed.
1996 Dudayev killed in a Russian missile attack. Moscow and Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov sign the Khasavyurt Accord. Gives Chechnya substantial autonomy, but not complete independence.
1999 A series of apartment blocks are bombed in Russia. Russian forces redeploy in Chechnya. Maskhadov goes underground. Nearly 2,00,000 Chechens flee to neighbouring republics.
2000 Grozny falls; Putin declares Moscow’s direct rule
Chechen Saga Unfurled
A cause two centuries old...
2002 Chechen rebels seize a Moscow theatre. The building stormed; 120 dead.
2003 A new Constitution, adopted through referendum, declares Chechnya to be part of Russia. Referendum widely criticised as bogus.
2004 President Akhmad Kadyrov is assassinated
2004 Beslan happens; death toll: 335 and still counting
