Insurgency Success Factors and Rebel Legitimacy
when Russia regained control of Chechnya it could continue to use the facilities without delay66.
The political dynamic in Chechnya put Russian administration in a challenging position. Russia
could reduce the legitimacy and capacity of the de facto government by reducing economic
assistance, but would reduce their own economic gains from the refineries and would produce
additional challenges when Russia regained control of the refineries. Ultimately, the government
decided to acknowledge the de facto government as the practical point of contact for the oil
refineries and negotiate continued maintenance of economic productivity through their regime67.
In awarding assistance to the de facto government, Russia acknowledged the government's
ability to effectively manage fund to sustain oil productivity, as well as their control over the
Chechen economy. This recognition solidified rebellion role in economic productivity in
Chechnya.
Russia's provision of economic assistance to the Chechen de facto government had two
effects on rebel legitimacy. First, Russia funneling economic assistance through the de facto
government instead of Russian administration confirmed Russian acknowledgement of the de
facto government as both an appropriate, and the only reasonable recipient of economic aid. This
move also confirmed Chechen control of territory, economic activity, and facilities in the region.
Second, this move also helped to secure the de facto government's legitimacy as the coordinating
power over Chechen oil refineries. Russia's acknowledgement of the Chechen Republic as the
actor through which economic and political relations should be funneled awarded the republic
with control over economic negotiations with Russia and foreign states.
The republic's control of economic productivity supported the development of
independent economic production, relations, and outputs 68. The control and maintenance of oil
production likely would not have been possible without Russian involvement in oil production
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