Boris Nemtsov has an aggressive piece running in the Wall Street Journal today criticizing the Russian government’s handling of the escalating violence in the North Caucasus.  Agree with him or not, he is pointing at a very important problem which has the potential to become much larger.

One of the biggest myths perpetrated by Vladimir Putin’s propaganda machine is that during his 10-year rule over Russia, the former president and current prime minister succeeded in “pacifying” the North Caucasus. Nothing could be further from the truth. What we are witnessing today is the start of the third Caucasus war in 15 years, following the two Chechen wars of 1994 and 1999.  (…)

Another important reason for the Kremlin’s Caucasus failure is the elimination of democratic procedures. “Elections” in which Mr. Putin and his party receive 100% of the vote on a 100% turnout in Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan are a throwback to Soviet times. They have left citizens without any real influence over their governments. The Kremlin’s stubborn insistence on retaining former KGB Gen. Murat Zyazikov as president of Ingushetia despite overwhelming local opposition has no doubt greatly contributed to the recent upsurge in violence in that region.