Correcting the incorrigible? Russia’s relations with the west over Chechnya

One of the potentially most difficult cases of applying Western standards to change post-communist state behaviour relates to Russia’s behaviour in Chechnya. This involves Russia, a state convinced of an enduring international status that renders it above international criticism, and an issue that Russian leaders have overwhelmingly exempted from such criticism. The Council of Europe has made particular efforts to influence Russia over this issue, and these efforts have been reflected in changes in the rhetoric and practice of Russian media in reporting the conflict. Despite this worstcase scenario of a major power rejecting international attention or interference over a highly sensitive, militarized secessionist issue, there has nevertheless been moderate success in at least making Russia sensitive to external standards.