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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 5-Mar-2011
5-Mar-11 News -- Russia unleashes 'Black Hawk' vigilantes against Caucasus terrorists

Web Log - March, 2011

5-Mar-11 News -- Russia unleashes 'Black Hawk' vigilantes against Caucasus terrorists

The 'Black Hawks' say they'll target the families of suspected terrorists

Russia unleashes 'Black Hawk' vigilantes against Caucasus terrorists

The conflict in the North Caucasus (Russia's mostly Muslim southern provinces) has taken a dangerous turn, as a group of grass-root vigilantes threaten, with apparent Kremlin approval, to retaliate against the families of suspected terrorists.

Leader of 'Black Hawks'

Leader of 'Black Hawks'

The armed, masked, and black-clad vigilante group, calling themselves the "Black Hawks," appeared in the province of Kabardino-Balkaria (KBR). They call themselves an "anti-Wahhabi" group. Wahhabism is the hard-line sect of Islam adopted by jihadists who distort Islam to justify terrorism.

They've received widespread attention in the last couple of days, ever since the leader was interviewed anonymously on television, and the video (Russian) was posted on the internet.

He says the following, according to Interfax:

"There is no faith there. The Quran says that children's and women's blood cannot be shed. The Quran has only one definition of a holy war - jihad. This implies the liberation of one's land. Who is oppressing them here? Who prevents them from living peacefully and safely?" the leader of Black Hawks said on the television channel REN-TV during a news program on Tuesday evening.
Let them [the militants] collect tributes from businessmen and vodka tycoons, but they can't kill our children. If they continue this way, we will be killing their children, so they feel on their own back how painful this is. We are sick and tired of the lawlessness committed by this bearded scum who doesn't let the republic live in peace."

Violence by the Black Hawks has already received some tacit approval from at least one senior Kremlin official. Alexander Torshin, whom we recently quoted as accusing Georgia of plotting the Moscow airport bombing (see "3-Mar-11 News -- Instability in Russia puts 2014 Olympics at Sochi in doubt"), is quoted by Interfax as at least partially supporting the Black Hawks, but also saying that their appearance will escalate the violence in the region, possibly to civil war:

"The people who have joined the Black Hawks are a real force, they are a young people's organization consisting mainly of young people who want to live according to civilized laws, not according to radical Islamic rules.
The bearded terrorists are carrying a tough Islamic order, which has nothing in common with European values, and therefore the appearance of such an underground structure in Kabardino-Balkaria is very natural. ...
At the same time, they already have conflicts with the law enforcement system because they practice lynch law, which will be toughly curbed by the law enforcement agencies. We have a question: why are they so quick to punish them, but are doing nothing to stop the bearded men? ...
It's a civil war with underground bandits. I will give my paradoxical opinion. I believe the local law enforcement agencies should not fight these good people from the Black Hawks, who are fighting Wahhabis, but use them because they could become a good information channel."

The Black Hawks have struck several times already. The Moscow Times lists several attacks against the relatives of suspected terrorists in Kabardino-Balkaria. These attacks set off fires and grenades at the homes of these families and relatives, but so far nobody has been hurt.

There is some suspicion that the Black Hawks are not civilians at all, but are Russian security forces in disguise, performing violent acts that they couldn't do in their official capacity. However, this has not been proven.

Doku Umarov, veteran of the Chechnya wars and self-styled head of the "Islamic Caucasus Emirate," is currently the leader of the jihadist movement in the North Caucasus, and the man who has claimed responsibility for the Moscow airport bombing. He is not going to end his terrorist activities because the families of some of his subordinates are in danger.

Historically, the Caucasus is one of the most dangerous regions on earth. It's been the site of centuries of major generational crisis wars between Orthodox Christians and Muslims, but has also been the site of wars between ethnic groups, even of the same religion. The appearance of vigilante groups approved by Kremlin officials cannot be regarded as a good thing in a region that might explode at any time.

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 5-Mar-11 News -- Russia unleashes 'Black Hawk' vigilantes against Caucasus terrorists thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (5-Mar-2011) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 5-Mar-2011 5-Mar-11 News -- Russia unleashes 'Black Hawk' vigilantes against Caucasus terrorists

Russia unleashes 'Black Hawk' vigilantes against Caucasus terrorists

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 5-Mar-2011
5-Mar-11 News -- Russia unleashes 'Black Hawk' vigilantes against Caucasus terrorists