Insurgency Success Factors and Rebel Legitimacy
hostage crises led by Basyaev, and declared rebel troops who used civilians as hostages would be
punished as criminals under the Chechen constitution 279. Active adherence to both international
and rebel law produced a sense of reliability and honesty between rebel groups, and civilians and
external actors. By obeying laws, the rebel group proved their commitment to protecting
civilians, thereby garnering civilian legitimacy, and to upholding laws and policies, thereby
improving international legitimacy.
The start of the Second Chechen war led to a decrease in adherence to international law
by both sides 280. Increasingly brutal policies, and lack of negotiation from Russian military
forces were met with retaliating brutality and violence from the insurgency 281. Attempts to
adhere to international law, such as one-sided cease-fire concessions, led to devastating rebel
losses on several occasions 282. The rebellion's disregard for international law and growing
application of terrorism and guerilla tactics in warfare made it easier for both Russia and the
international community to categorize insurgent acts as terrorism, reducing the rebellion's
legitimacy.
By 2000, the rebellion had lost all legal authority and implementation over Chechnya's
populations, government, and territory. Rebel actors were stripped of legal authority in the
Russian state 283. In 2000, Russia implemented a series of laws that stripped suspected terrorists
of many basic rights. Under these laws, individuals could lose right to legal trail, freedom of
speech, and even citizenship 284. Suspected terrorists and supporters often received no trial, facing
imprisonment or death based on suspect alone. Harsh legal action could be taken even against
advocates of Chechen human rights or autonomy, under the pretense that such action supports
terrorism 285
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