The Chechen National Liberation Movement “United Force” was established at the First International Congress of the Chechen Diaspora and Political Emigrants, which took place on November 25-26, 2022, in the suburbs of Paris, in the city of Melun. This event marked an important milestone in the history of the Chechen people, bringing together representatives of the diaspora and political emigrants in the pursuit of freedom and justice.
According to estimates, around 250,000 representatives of the Chechen diaspora live in European countries, of which 2,000-3,000 are political emigrants. The congress gathered 80 delegates with mandates from 1,600 political emigrants and 65 guests, which indicates a high level of involvement and delegation, especially given the occupation of Chechnya and the pressure exerted by the regime on the emigrants’ relatives.
Thus, the “United Force” movement becomes a representative and voice of the Chechen community both in Europe and in Chechnya itself, where local residents are deprived of the opportunity to openly express their views and opinions.
The movement actively interacts with the Chechen community both through social networks and directly, organizing various events such as conferences, rallies, reconciliation between feuding families, and other social activities. Additionally, “United Force” holds meetings with Chechen diasporas in European countries and implements cultural and educational programs aimed at teaching languages, history, traditions, and the laws of the host countries. Movement members also attend funerals and weddings, visit picnics and sports matches organized by fellow countrymen, engaging in conversations on various topics and maintaining feedback. The integration programs of the “United Force” movement provide legal assistance, consultations on integration issues, and recommendations for interacting with integration institutions.
The “United Force” movement supports fundamental democratic values such as freedom of speech, the electability and changeability of power, as well as independent courts. It actively promotes these values in Chechen society and interacts with international institutions such as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the European Parliament, and UNESCO.
In December 2022, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially announced its cooperation with the Chechen national liberation movement “United Force” and established an inter-factional deputy group “Free Ichkeria” as a platform for interaction, headed by the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Oleksandr Merezhko.
The goals of the movement:
1.Deoccupation of Chechnya and the establishment of a rule-of-law state:
-Withdrawal of Russian troops from the temporarily occupied Chechnya;
-Holding free elections and restoring state power institutions;
-Signing international conventions and treaties, as well as integration into the system of international relations. Establishing political, economic, and cultural ties with other countries;
-Dekadyrization of Chechen society, restoration of traditional national institutions, and democratic foundations;
-Stopping the process of assimilation and Russification, reforming the literary Chechen language and the education system.
2.Work with the Chechen diaspora:
-Integration of Chechens in European countries through education, upbringing, and employment;
-Changing the image of the Chechen people. Counteracting Russian informational clichés, working with European media, cultural and educational programs, and collaborating with municipalities and prefectures in the countries of residence.
3.Establishing interaction with international institutions:
-Raising awareness of the Chechen issue and drawing international attention to it;
-Identifying facts of Russian military-political crimes in Chechnya, Russia’s military aggression against the de facto independent Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (ChRI), and multiple acts of genocide against the Chechen people;
-Preparing a legal framework for the condemnation of Russia’s crimes in Chechnya by international institutions. Justifying that the crimes in Chechnya are not an exception, but represent systemic features of Russian criminal-militarist policy, using examples of similar crimes in Ukraine, Georgia, and Syria;
-Justifying the legal, moral-legal, and factual aspects of Chechen independence;
-Establishing bridges of cooperation with politicians from democratic countries within the framework of the highlighted issue.
The creation of the “United Force” movement is a significant milestone in the centuries-old national liberation struggle of the Chechen people, an important step towards restoring the rights and freedoms of the Chechen people, consolidating the Chechen diaspora in Europe, and forming a strong and united political team aimed at the deoccupation of the temporarily occupied independent Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (ChRI) and the restoration of its statehood.
In the context of modern challenges related to occupation and repression, the distortion of facts by Russian media, the labeling, and the creation of clichés and negative stereotypes about Chechens, the “United Force” movement aims not only to defend the rights of Chechens and to achieve deoccupation but also to restore the trust of the international community in the Chechen people.
Working with the diaspora, focusing on integration and education, is a key aspect that will help change the perception of the Chechen people in the world and break the stereotypes imposed by Russian propaganda. Training and legal assistance programs create conditions for the successful adaptation of Chechens in new countries, fostering their active participation in public life and strengthening the position of Chechen culture.
Furthermore, interaction with international institutions and organizations not only allows for raising awareness of the issues faced by the Chechen people but also helps to build a joint strategy for addressing them on a global level. Drawing attention to human rights violations in Chechnya and other regions where Russia is carrying out aggression is a necessary step in creating international pressure on the Russian regime.
Thus, the “United Force” movement not only fights for the rights of Chechens but also creates a platform for dialogue and cooperation, contributing to the formation of a new vision for the future of Chechnya — free, democratic, and legal.
Every step taken by the “United Force” movement is aimed at bringing closer the century-old dream of the Chechen people — the establishment of an independent state. It is important that all Chechens, regardless of their status, unite around this idea, supporting each other and striving toward a common goal — the creation of a just and peaceful society in the sovereign and internationally recognized independent Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.
Only together can we achieve success!