Insurgency Success Factors and Rebel Legitimacy
Wahhabism played a substantial role in directing the insurgency's ideology in the later
years of the movement. It also contributed significantly to the rebel's ability to garner support
from al-Qaeda¹79. Chechen rebels became acquainted with the founding members of al-Qaeda as
foreign fighters in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980's. Within the conflict, Chechen
and Afghan rebels had important similarities. The social structures of both groups were
organized around a complicated mixture of Islamic, communal and tribal practice. Both groups
were engaged in a fight with the Soviet Union to remove a foreign colonial-type power from
their traditional land. These ideological similarities allowed Afghan rebels, later organized into
al-Qaeda, to sympathize and internalize the Chechen independence movement 180.
When Dudayev declared independence in 1991, the established al-Qaeda movement sent
one of their prominent leaders, Abu Abdullah, to Chechnya to establish training camps, teach
Wahhabism, and support the separatist cause 181. Abdullah is credited with helping plan key
insurgent activity during the First and Second Chechen wars, including the invasion of Dagestan
and encouraging the rise in jihadi tactics after 2000182. He also served as a mentor to insurgent
leader Shamil Basayev, who led key military operations in the Chechen Wars, and played an
active role in the insurgency until his death 183. Abdullah acted as the main point of contact
between al-Qaeda and the insurgency. He opened Wahhabi schools in Chechnya, reducing the
need for young Chechens to travel abroad to attend religious schools. He also provided military
training, and al-Qaeda-based ideology 184
Al-Qaeda affiliates also supported the Chechen rebellion's propaganda efforts. Many of
the movement's successful social media campaigns are mirrored after al-Qaeda and ISIS
propaganda campaigns and rhetoric. Since 1998, al-Qaeda supported the Chechen cause on
extremist social media platforms, portraying positive reinforcement for Chechen independence,
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