ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Chechen Republic of Ichkeria

Okay little buddy, let me try to explain what the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria is.

So, you know how some countries are made up of different places where different people live, right? Well, the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria was like a little country inside a bigger country called Russia.

The people who lived in the Chechen Republic were called Chechens, and they had their own language, culture, and traditions. They wanted to have their own independent country where they could make their own rules and live the way they wanted to.

But Russia didn't like that idea. They wanted the Chechen Republic to be a part of Russia and follow their rules. So, there was a lot of fighting between the Chechens and the Russian government.

Eventually, the Chechen Republic declared independence from Russia in 1991, which means they wanted to be their own country. But Russia didn't recognize their independence and they sent in their army to take control of the Chechen Republic.

This led to a long and violent conflict between the Chechens and the Russian army. Many people were killed or forced to leave their homes.

Today, the Chechen Republic is still a part of Russia, but there is still some tension between the Chechens and the Russian government. The Chechens still want their own independent country, but they are not fighting for it anymore.