the outcome of the election

[Ashock]

A. Chechnya isn't in the middle of Russia, it's right at the southern rim.

B. The Chechens were conquered only in the 19. century, after decades of resistance.

C. The Chechens are a distinct ethnic group with their own language, history and culture.

According to the principle of self-determination they have every right to independence and their own state. The only difference between Chechnya on the one hand and places like India, Kenya etc. is, that there is no ocean between the colonial power and the colony. Since the start of the 1. Chechen war of independence in 1994 about 25% of the Chechens have been killed outright or disappeared. Why should they stick to the Rules of War if their enemy doesn't?
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A. By middle, I meant simply part of the russian territory.

B. The USSR had over 100 distinct ethnic groups, with only one of them killing school kids. What's your point?

C. There's all sorts of natinalities living in all sorts of nations. Does that mean they're all entitled to carve out their own country within the borders of the countries that they populate?

I am part Russian-Orthodox, part Russian-German and part Russian-Jew. According to your principle of self-determination, I constitute a distinct people. Should I try to carve out my own little country in Northridge, CA? And better yet, should the US let me?



-A