Originally for decades there was a separatist or national movement against the formerly Soviet Union and it's control through communism. Military endeavors by the Russian government to break up the separatist or national movement which brought about Independence for Chechnya by way of the 1996 peace agreement. An invasion by the International Islamic Brigade in 1999, which is likened to Islamic Terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and Russia's victory in stopping such a movement, brought on the second Chechen war. The war lasted over nine years and the Russians succeeded by putting Chechnya under rule of Moscow. It is should be noted that due to the Islamic insurgency into that area, is the cause of many terrorist acts against the Russian people.
