Caucasus region , including Great Caucasus Mountains , Little Caucasus Mountains , and the northern part of the Armenian Plateau, from Caucasus Sea to Black Sea . Among them, the Greater Caucasus Mountains is the dividing line between Europe and Asia, with a length of about 1,200 kilometers. The highest peak, 1, Elbrus Peak, 2, is about 5,642 meters above sea level.
There are four countries in the Caucasus region, bounded by the Greater Caucasus Mountains as the boundary. To the north is Russia, to the south are Georgia , and to the south are Georgia , and to the south are Armenia . To the south are called Caucasus Three Kingdoms.
The Great Caucasus Mountains are the dividing line of Asia and Europe. During the Soviet Union, Russia's sphere of influence did not cross the Great Caucasus Mountains. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia once retreated to the north of the Great Caucasus Mountains due to Chechen independence. Later, it gradually controlled the situation. Not only did it hold on to Chechen , it also crossed the Great Caucasus Mountains and controlled many parts of Georgia. Let's take a look at this process.
[Checchen]
Russia Federal District Chechen Republic is located on the north side of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, not far from the Caspian Sea, but is still separated by an Dagestan Republic , which is an inland administrative region.
Chechnya has an area of about 17,300 square kilometers and a population of about 1.31 million (2020). The area of Chechnya is equivalent to that of our prefecture-level administrative region, and its population is the size of our small city.
Chechen is a nation formed by long-term mixed blood of the mountain natives and outsiders in the northeast of the Caucasus. It is fierce and aggressive and has a fierce folk custom. With the rise of the Ottoman Empire, the Chechens gradually became Islamized. In the Russian-Turkey War between Russia and Turkey between
Turkey, Chechnya has always been the front line of both sides. The Chechens stood on Turkey because of their religious beliefs. The hatred between Chechnya and Russia began at this time.
1991, , the Soviet Union collapsed , and Chechnya declared independence at this time. At that time, Russia was suffering from internal and external troubles. Georgia was Russia's main enemy in the Caucasus. It could not take any action to prevent Chechnya from independence. This delay lasted for three years.
The First Chechen War broke out in 1994 and ended in 1996, and Chechen won. Russia suffered losses in the army, withdrew its troops in disgrace and accidentally lost the war.
The Second Chechen War broke out in 1999 and ended in 2000. Russia won, and Chechen was still a mantis armed mantis, with Russian flags hanging on the streets and alleys.
If Russia loses Chechnya, a piece of it will be concave on the north side of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, which will become a breakthrough for the United States and NATO during wartime. In actual combat, Russia not only stabilized the northern foothills of the Greater Caucasus, but also crossed the Greater Caucasus and controlled some parts of Georgia. It was not strategically conservative, and it can be said that it uses offense as its defense.
[Georgia]
Georgia has an area of about 69,700 square kilometers and a population of about 3.728,600 (January 2021), and the capital Tbilisi.
There are three places in Georgia with a total area of 15,500 square kilometers uncontrolled. These three disputed local coastlines account for 2/3 of Georgia, with an area of about 22% of Georgia.
The first disputed place is Abkhazia, with an area of 8,660 square kilometers, and its size is between Shanghai and Tianjin, which is equivalent to the area of a municipality directly under the central government in China. Abkhazia is located on the southwest side of the Caucasus Mountains. Over the mountains to the north is Russia and facing the Black Sea to the west. Not only is it surrounded by mountains and seas, but the coastline is also more than 200 kilometers, accounting for more than half of Georgia and has a very good geographical location.
Georgia collapsed from the Soviet Union in 1991. In 1992, the opposition in Abkhazia rose up and confronted each other. By 1994, with the help of Russia, this military force actually controlled most of Abkhazia's territory and declared independence.
Russia has not officially announced its annexation of Abkhazia, but Russia has established military base here, and Black Sea Fleet is also free to come and go. This place is no longer very different from Russian territory.
The second disputed place is South Ossetia , a state below Georgia, with 3900 square kilometers.
Ossetian is a mountainous nation that lives on the Greater Caucasus Mountains. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Ossetians in the north were called North Ossetians and were incorporated into Russia; the Ossetians in the south were called South Ossetians and were planned to be incorporated into Georgia.
Georgia was established in 1991, and South Ossetia also declared independence as a country. The war has fought for a year since then. With Russian intervention, South Ossetia actually gained independent status. Now the people of South Ossetia have Russian passport .
The third controversial place is Hazard , with an area of 2880 square kilometers, located in southwest of Georgia, on the Black Sea, with beautiful scenery. Georgia fought against Hazard's opposition forces for more than ten years and finally recovered lost territory in 2004.
Due to the loss of the first two places, about 18% of Georgia's territory is occupied by Russia, and more than half of the coastline is occupied by Russia. Now Georgia is actively planning to join NATO. It was a good brother in the Soviet Union at the time, but why has it reached the point of death?
[Armenia and Azerbaijan]
Armenia has an area of about 29,700 square kilometers and a population of about 2.964 million (January 2021), controlling about 11,500 square kilometers of Nagorno-Karabakh region on the territory of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has an area of about 86,600 square kilometers and a population of about 10.1234 million (December 2020), occupying an enclave of about 5,502.75 square kilometers on Armenian territory.
Both sides did not give in to any inch of land on territorial issues, and they were beaten to death. This is also the main reason for the hostility between Armenia and Azerbaijan to date.
20 war broke out again in the double attack. Azerbaijan had Türkiye's support and drones showed great power. Armenia was defeated and then ceded land after surrendering. A total of about half of the Nagorno-Karabakh region was lost.
Although Russia is biased towards Armenia, it does not want to fight in person like Türkiye. The war between small countries depends largely on the attitude of the big countries.
What is the best for the Caucasus Mountains? As the Eurasian dividing line, the Greater Caucasus Mountains are a natural barrier. Russia lost Chechnya north of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, and this area was broken. On the contrary, if Russia breaks south of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, its sphere of influence will extend to West Asia, which can be used to reverse defense and attack and move forward and retreat freely.
