SUMMARY
The conflict between the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and the Forces of Rusland Labazanov was one of several conflicts fought over power in Chechnya during the early 1990s in the wake of rising separatism and the struggle of the breakaway state for independence from the Soviet Union and Russia.
Ruslan Labazanov and his paramilitary outfit had supported the unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria under Dzhokhar Dudajev since 1992. In 1994, Ruslan Labazanov switched sides and turned against Dudajev. The opposition in Chechnya against Dudajev was growing for a number of reasons. Not only had he been unable to win international recognition for an independent Chechnya, but also Dudajev’s economic program was a failure. As a result, the intelligentsia, the economic leaders and the majority of entrepreneurs of Chechnya turned against Dudajev’s regime. In addition to that, the support for Dudajev had been motivated by the external threat rather than loyalty to its regime. Regarding the relationship between Dudajev and Labazanov, rivalries between clans and struggles for control over oil, narco-trafficking and illicit arms trade also added to the split between the former allies. Personally, Dudajev feared that Labazanov was becoming too powerful and saw him as a threat. Various efforts of the opposition to remove Dudajev peacefully had failed and eventually the conflict escalated.
A major armed confrontation between Labazanov and Dudajev occurred in June 1994. On 12 June, Labazanov’s troops had entered central Grozny with heavy arms to present the demands of the opposition and calling on Dudajev to resign from his position. Security forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in response attacked the Forces of Ruslan Labazanov. Around 180, according to other sources even up to 300, people died in the attack on Labazanov’s headquarters and the Forces of Ruslan Labazanov were forced to retreat. Labazanov suffered heavy injuries in the attack and declared a blood feud against Dudajev.
Dudajev’s attack against his former ally was supposed to send a clear message to other opposition leaders that any form of open criticism or even violent opposition would not be tolerated. Also, Dudajev wanted to show Russia that he was in control of the situation. However, the heavy-handed response of the government forces rather strengthened the opposition, which was increasingly receiving support from Moscow that eventually resulted in the Russian invasion in December 1994.
After suffering the defeat against Dudajev’s troops, Labazanov’s forces joined the ranks of the Chechen Provisional Council and continued the armed struggle against Dudajev. (Also see the entry on the non-state conflict between the Provisional Council of the Chechen Republic and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in the database for more information.)
The non-state conflict between the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and the Forces of Ruslan Labazanov is first included in UCDP data in 1994. On 13 June 1994, a violent clash between the two groups led to the passing of the threshold of 25 battle-related deaths.
