Greetings,
Since the fall of Sheykh Shamil's freedom movement on Caucasus to the collapse of Soviet Union in late 80s and the outset of 90s, Chechen Liberation Movement has gone through at least three periods vis-a-vis Russian Troops (Tzar and Bolsheviks and post-Yeltsinian era).
After the assasination of Late General Dudayev, the Chechen Movement has gone through an internal transformation in terms of ideology and re-grouping. Islam has been always part of the Chechen life since the late 13th century (or some would argue even earlier). The branch of Islam more popular among Chechens has been Sufism or Dervish Orders. However, since the assasination of Dudayev and the intense aggression of Russian Troops in this area, the Islamic Internationalism or Ummatic Ideology has gain the upperhands among Chechen fighters.
Since the early days of this March there has been fierece fightings among Russian troops and Chechens and constant genocide has been going on in areas within and around Grozny and remote villages where Chechen fighters are suspected to be present.
Below you will find an article by Karim Fenari about Imam Shamyl and Chechen's Struggle for freedom more than a century through Tzarism to Communism and Post-communist market economy of Putin and his establishment:
Kind
Seyed
University of Bristol
(Grozny)