Ingushetia

Autonomous republic of the Russian Federation, on the northern slopes of the Caucasus mountains; area 2,000 sq km/770 sq mi; population (1994 est) 250,000 (Ingush 85%). The capital is Nazran. The chief industries are farming and cattle-raising; there is also petroleum drilling. The predominant religion is Islam.

The Ingush people became Russian subjects in 1810 and did not resist Russian occupation of the Caucasus in the mid-19th century. In 1924 Ingushetia became an autonomous republic of the USSR, and in 1936 was merged with Chechnya to form the Autonomous Republic of Checheno-Ingush. The republic was dissolved in 1944 and a large part of the population deported for alleged wartime collaboration. Khrushchev reconstituted the republic in 1957 and 232,000 Chechens and Ingush returned from exile. In 1992, following border clashes with the Chechens, Ingushetia was made an autonomous republic in its own right. In 1999, refugees from Chechnya amassed in Ingushetia. The situation soon amounted to a humanitarian crisis.