e autumn of 1999, when the second Chechen war began, Russia has been mired in terrorist- EFTA_R1_02211230 EFTA02724403 related violence linked to the North Caucasus. What makes the recent suicide bombings in Volgograd, in October and December 2013, stand out—and what has been overlooked in much of the reportin

terrorists. Also, the West has a vested interest in how Russia deals with this issue. For these jihadists are seeking theatres of war not only in the North Caucasus, but also across the Middle East and Central Asia. Today, they can be found in Afghanistan and Syria. Tomorrow, they could be anywhere. Andrew Fox

nder Putin’ rule: murdered journalists and political opposition leaders, the invasion of neighbor- ing states, brutish counterinsurgency campaigns in the North Caucasus, the emasculation of a once-vi- brant media sector, rigged elections, and much more. If they choose to shower him with praise, political leaders like