SUMMARY
During the early 1990s, fighting erupted in Chechnya following the collapse of the Soviet Union, growing separatist tendencies and the unilateral declaration of the independent Chechen Republic of Ichkeria by Dzhokhar Dudajev. The Chechen Provisional Council was a major opposition group competing for power and influence in the breakaway state and fighting the regime of Dzhokhar Dudajev.
The Chechen Provisional Council emerged in December 1993 and became a major movement during 1994. It was headed by the former police officer Umar Avturkhanov and comprised a number of militant and criminal groupings. Bislan Gantamirov, the previous mayor of Grozny, was commander of the armed wing of the Provisional Council. The Council had its base in the Nadterentyj District, an area outside Dzhokhar Dudajev’s reach, but enjoyed little public support outside that area. Ruslan Labazanov and Ruslan Khasbulatov became part of the Council during 1994. The forces of Labazanov started fighting the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in June (for more information see the non-state conflict between Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and Forces of Ruslan Labazanov in the database), but joined the Council after a major defeat against Dudajev in summer 1994 and are thereafter coded as part of this actor.
The members of the Council were unified in their opposition against Dudajev. The objective of the Provisional Council therefore was to drive out Dudajev’s unrecognized Chechen government, which was confirmed during a “Congress of the Peoples of Chechnya” on 3-4 June 1994 with over 2,000 delegates from all over Chechnya. Despite the very limited popular support outside Nadterentyj District, the congress issued a declaration declaring the Council to be the sole legitimate power in Chechnya. In addition to assuming power in Chechnya, the Provisional Council in the declaration also promised elections.
Given the common goal of removing Dudajev from power, the move was endorsed by Moscow and in August 1994, the Russian government made the Council its primary ally against Dudajev. By then, talks between the Council and Moscow had been going on for several months. From Moscow’s perspective, the Council was an opportunity to get rid of Dudajev without having to intervene in Chechnya.
During July and August 1994, the Council set up armed formations in the districts of Nadterechnyi and Urus-Martan, which at that time were out of Dudajev’s reach. On 11 August 1994, the Council declared the formation of a new Chechen government headed by Ali Avadvinov as prime minister.
Yet, the members of the Council disagreed about a number of substantial issues. In line with the population, the majority clearly supported Chechnya’s independence and strictly opposed a Russian intervention in Chechnya. Others, first of all Avturkhanov himself, were willing to accept Russian forces in Chechnya and were even prepared to give up Chechen independence if only Dudajev’s regime was removed from power.
These splits and the dependence on Russian aid turned into a problem for the Council as many Chechens perceived the members of the Council as traitors and Russian stooges. In fact, as a result, many who were critical of Dudajev and supportive of the opposition chose to support Dudajev rather than the Council.
Provisional Council of the Chechen Republic has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.
