Carnegie Moscow Center
The two suspected terrorists were influenced at least indirectly by the Chechen wars which devastated Chechnya. While this was traumatic for most, a small minority have become radicalized.
The Boston bombing has heightened tensions in Europe and has had repercussions for Russia, especially in light of the need to provide security at the Sochi Olympics.
Muslims make up around 20 percent of Russia’s population and there are disgruntled elements that are active on the internet.
The North Caucasus, home of a low-level Islamist insurgency, is easily Europe’s worst conflict zone. Moscow has lost authority over the territory—but no one else has gained it.
There is so far no evidence that the two suspects in the Boston bombings had direct links with any known terrorist organizations in the region. Most likely, the overall environment was conducive to their radicalization.
The current situation in Dagestan may have more bearing on the actions of the Boston bombers than the situation in Chechnya.
Islam may not have been the primary motivation behind the Tsarnaev brothers’ bombing in Boston; what they wanted was to make headlines.
Chechnya is outwardly much more quiet than in previous years, but a low-level Islamist insurgency continues in and around the region that takes dozens of lives each year.
If proven to be part of a Caucasian-based jihad, the Boston Marathon bombings would be the first time Islamist actions from that region had been perpetrated against the United States.
The Boston Marathon bombing offers evidence of the importance of Moscow and Washington sharing intelligence on security issues.