Zachistka: Difference between revisions
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'''Zachistka''' ({{lang-rus|зачистка}}, lit. ''clearing operation'') is an unofficial [[Russia]]n [[military]] term for "building (room-to-room) clearing operations" ([[battle drill]]) featuring armed [[patrol]]s and house-to-house searches. The term is mostly associated with, but not exclusive to, the [[Second Chechen War]] as a result of Russian operations in [[Chechnya]]. Several ''zachistka'' operations became notorious for their accused or confirmed [[human rights violations]] by Russian forces, including [[ethnic cleansing]] and [[pillaging]], and the term ''zachistka'' is used in [[English language|English]] exclusively to refer to these violations, particularly in Chechnya and the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/legacy/russian/editorials/chechnya/index.html Human Rights Watch]</ref> |
'''Zachistka''' ({{lang-rus|зачистка}}, lit. ''clearing operation'') is an unofficial [[Russia]]n [[military]] term for "building (room-to-room) clearing operations" ([[battle drill]]) featuring armed [[patrol]]s and house-to-house searches. The term is mostly associated with, but not exclusive to, the [[Second Chechen War]] as a result of Russian operations in [[Chechnya]]. Several ''zachistka'' operations became notorious for their accused or confirmed [[human rights violations]] by Russian forces, including [[ethnic cleansing]] and [[pillaging]], and the term ''zachistka'' is used in [[English language|English]] exclusively to refer to these violations, particularly in Chechnya and the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/legacy/russian/editorials/chechnya/index.html Human Rights Watch]</ref> |
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==In Chechnya== |
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===Russian Civil War=== |
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{{main article|Red Terror}} |
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===World War II=== |
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{{main article|Soviet war crimes}} |
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=== Novye Aldi === |
=== Novye Aldi === |
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{{main article|Novye Aldi massacre}} |
{{main article|Novye Aldi massacre}} |
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The Borozdinovskaya operation was a ''zachistka'' by members of the [[Special Battalion Vostok]], an ethnic [[Chechen people|Chechen]] unit of the [[Spetsnaz GRU]], on June 4, 2005, in the [[Avars (Caucasus)|Avar]] ethnic minority village of Borozdinovskaya, near Chechnya's border with [[Dagestan]]. At least 12 residents, 11 of which were Avar, were killed or "[[forced disappearance|disappeared]]". Representatives of the Russian federal authorities expressed outrage over the incident, and the commander of the unit responsible was convicted. |
The Borozdinovskaya operation was a ''zachistka'' by members of the [[Special Battalion Vostok]], an ethnic [[Chechen people|Chechen]] unit of the [[Spetsnaz GRU]], on June 4, 2005, in the [[Avars (Caucasus)|Avar]] ethnic minority village of Borozdinovskaya, near Chechnya's border with [[Dagestan]]. At least 12 residents, 11 of which were Avar, were killed or "[[forced disappearance|disappeared]]". Representatives of the Russian federal authorities expressed outrage over the incident, and the commander of the unit responsible was convicted. |
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== In Ukraine == |
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{{main article|Bucha massacre}} |
{{main article|Bucha massacre}} |
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After withdrawing from the village of Bucha outside of Kyiv, the Russian armed forces were reported to have systematically killed over 310 civilians. Over 40 victims were found in the street, shot in the head with their hands tied on their backs. Two mass graves, containing over 270 civilians were also found.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bodies, rubble line the streets of Bucha following Russian retreat |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/02/bucha-bodies-russia-retreat-kyiv/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In intercepted conversations, Russian soldiers referred to these operations involving hunting down people in lists, filtration, torture, and execution as zachistka ("cleansing").<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Russian Soldiers Ran a "Cleansing" Operation in Bucha, Ukraine |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/russian-soldiers-cleansing-operation-bucha-ukraine/ |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=FRONTLINE |language=en-US}}</ref> |
After withdrawing from the village of Bucha outside of Kyiv, the Russian armed forces were reported to have systematically killed over 310 civilians. Over 40 victims were found in the street, shot in the head with their hands tied on their backs. Two mass graves, containing over 270 civilians were also found.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bodies, rubble line the streets of Bucha following Russian retreat |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/02/bucha-bodies-russia-retreat-kyiv/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In intercepted conversations, Russian soldiers referred to these operations involving hunting down people in lists, filtration, torture, and execution as zachistka ("cleansing").<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Russian Soldiers Ran a "Cleansing" Operation in Bucha, Ukraine |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/russian-soldiers-cleansing-operation-bucha-ukraine/ |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=FRONTLINE |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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==Elsewhere== |
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===Blagoveshchensk mass beating=== |
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The Blagoveshchensk mass beating is a term for a four-day ''zachistka'' operation by local [[OMON]] in [[Blagoveshchensk, Bashkortostan|Blagoveshchensk]], [[Bashkortostan]] from December 10, 2004 to December 14, 2004. Around 500 to 1,500 people, totalling 2.5% of Blagoveshchensk's population, were [[Arbitrary detention|arbitrarily detained]] by OMON [[special police]] and subject to physical abuse. The mass detentions, which even included [[adolescents]] and [[disabled]] people, were criticized as a [[collective punishment]] for Blagoveshchensk being one of the few towns in Bashkortostan to vote against [[Murtaza Rakhimov]]'s third term as [[President of Bashkortostan]]. |
The Blagoveshchensk mass beating is a term for a four-day ''zachistka'' operation by local [[OMON]] in [[Blagoveshchensk, Bashkortostan|Blagoveshchensk]], [[Bashkortostan]] from December 10, 2004 to December 14, 2004. Around 500 to 1,500 people, totalling 2.5% of Blagoveshchensk's population, were [[Arbitrary detention|arbitrarily detained]] by OMON [[special police]] and subject to physical abuse. The mass detentions, which even included [[adolescents]] and [[disabled]] people, were criticized as a [[collective punishment]] for Blagoveshchensk being one of the few towns in Bashkortostan to vote against [[Murtaza Rakhimov]]'s third term as [[President of Bashkortostan]]. |
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Revision as of 17:36, 26 February 2024
Zachistka (Russian: зачистка, lit. clearing operation) is an unofficial Russian military term for "building (room-to-room) clearing operations" (battle drill) featuring armed patrols and house-to-house searches. The term is mostly associated with, but not exclusive to, the Second Chechen War as a result of Russian operations in Chechnya. Several zachistka operations became notorious for their accused or confirmed human rights violations by Russian forces, including ethnic cleansing and pillaging, and the term zachistka is used in English exclusively to refer to these violations, particularly in Chechnya and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1]
In Chechnya
Novye Aldi
The Novye Aldi massacre was a massacre in which Russian federal forces summarily executed between 60 and 82 civilians in the Novye Aldi (Aldy) suburb of Grozny, in the course of a "mopping-up" operation conducted there on February 5, 2000. Numerous houses were also burned and civilian property was stolen in an organized manner and at least six women were raped.
Alkhan-Kala
The Alkhan-Kala operation was a week-long military zachistka by the Russian Spetsnaz special forces in Alkhan-Kala, Chechnya, south-west of the capital Grozny, from June 22, 2001 to June 28, 2001. The operation resulted in a major Russian victory, including the death of Arbi Barayev, a high-ranking Chechen separatist warlord, Islamist, and organized crime figure.
Tsotsin-Yurt
The Tsotsin-Yurt operation was a four-day zachistka by Russian Spetsnaz in Tsotsin-Yurt, Chechnya, starting on December 30, 2001. Officially, armed clashes broke out between Russian forces and Chechen separatists in the large village of Tsotsin-Yurt, south-east of Grozny. The outcome of the operation is disputed, and Russian troops were accused of widespread human rights violations.
Borozdinovskaya
The Borozdinovskaya operation was a zachistka by members of the Special Battalion Vostok, an ethnic Chechen unit of the Spetsnaz GRU, on June 4, 2005, in the Avar ethnic minority village of Borozdinovskaya, near Chechnya's border with Dagestan. At least 12 residents, 11 of which were Avar, were killed or "disappeared". Representatives of the Russian federal authorities expressed outrage over the incident, and the commander of the unit responsible was convicted.
In Ukraine
Bucha
After withdrawing from the village of Bucha outside of Kyiv, the Russian armed forces were reported to have systematically killed over 310 civilians. Over 40 victims were found in the street, shot in the head with their hands tied on their backs. Two mass graves, containing over 270 civilians were also found.[2] In intercepted conversations, Russian soldiers referred to these operations involving hunting down people in lists, filtration, torture, and execution as zachistka ("cleansing").[3]
Elsewhere
Blagoveshchensk mass beating
The Blagoveshchensk mass beating is a term for a four-day zachistka operation by local OMON in Blagoveshchensk, Bashkortostan from December 10, 2004 to December 14, 2004. Around 500 to 1,500 people, totalling 2.5% of Blagoveshchensk's population, were arbitrarily detained by OMON special police and subject to physical abuse. The mass detentions, which even included adolescents and disabled people, were criticized as a collective punishment for Blagoveshchensk being one of the few towns in Bashkortostan to vote against Murtaza Rakhimov's third term as President of Bashkortostan.
See also
References
- ^ Human Rights Watch
- ^ "Bodies, rubble line the streets of Bucha following Russian retreat". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
- ^ "How Russian Soldiers Ran a "Cleansing" Operation in Bucha, Ukraine". FRONTLINE. Retrieved 2023-12-30.