Insurgency Success Factors and Rebel Legitimacy

introduced and, eventually, reduced legitimate perceptions of Chechen independence into official Russian and Chechen political space. The initial submission of a bid for independence in 1991 sent shockwaves across the Soviet Union. The administration failed to predict the republic's bid application, and became faced with the possibility of either illegally rejecting the bid or losing the Chechen-Ingushetia Republic to independence. Fearing the effects an independent Chechnya would have on border security, national security, and the economy, the federal government ultimately decided to reject the bid 61. Although Russia failed to accept the Chechen bid for independence, the state continued to provide financial assistance to Chechnya 62. Absence of Russian administration and military presence in Chechnya from 1991-1998, led the Russia to rely on Dudayev and his administration to manage political and economic activity in Chechnya 63. This dynamic awarded the de facto government with legitimacy, even without open acknowledgement of independence, as Russia was forced to recognize de facto leadership as the controlling power over Chechen politics, society, and the economic productivity. This acknowledgement forced Russia to maintain relations with the de facto government, which included a continuation of certain forms of financial and logistical support that were provided to Soviet-Chechnya 64. Possibly the greatest representation of this relationship is Russia's funneling of financial assistance through Dudayev's administration to maintain Chechen oil refinery production from 1991-1994. It is worth noting that during the early stages of Chechen independence, Russia anticipated a solution, in which Chechnya would remain under Russian control. As such, Russia feared losing the Chechen oil refineries and mining facilities it had invested in under the Soviet Union 65. The welfare packages were intended to prevent the collapse of these industries so that 21 21

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