Islamic State Unhappy with Putin for Islamist Repression and Shi’ite Assistance

IS unveils motives to attack Russia
Grievance with Putin for harsh suppression of Chechen separatist force
Repeated attacks on Russian aircraft and subway
Aims a security vacuum caused by the invasion of Ukraine

As the world reels from the aftermath of the Moscow theater terror attack, attention is drawn to the background of the Afghanistan branch of the Islamic State (IS), known as ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), which has claimed responsibility for the tragic event. The primary reasons are believed to stem from historical grievances dating back to the late 1970s and 1980s when the former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Additionally, there was resentment towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, who took power by harshly suppressing Chechen separatist forces. It is especially noted that Russia’s support for the Shia-led Syrian government, which has a tricky relationship with the extremist Sunni IS, also played a role in making Moscow a stage for terror.

Analyzing foreign media on the 24th, the targeting of Russia by IS dates back half a century. Anti-Russian sentiment was sparked when the former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and further fueled by Putin’s brutal crackdown on separatist forces in Chechnya during the 1990s. Unlike regions dominated by the Russian Orthodox Church, areas like Chechnya boast a significant Muslim population. There were strong movements for separation and independence from Russia in Muslim regions such as Chechnya after the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Putin gained popularity and power in Russia by suppressing these movements.

It is pointed out that Russia’s support for the Shia-led regime of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad provoked the Sunni-led IS. With Russia’s support, Syria succeeded in driving out IS from its territory in 2017. CNN pointed out that “Assad, who has relentlessly persecuted the Sunnis in Syria, is a deadly enemy for IS” and that “Russia’s support, which helped Assad maintain power, may have motivated IS to target Moscow in retaliation.”

IS has a history of repeatedly carrying out terror attacks against Russia. The 2015 airplane terror attack that killed 224 people, the 2017 St. Petersburg subway terror attack, and the 2022 terror attack on the Russian embassy in Afghanistan are notable examples.

There are also analyses stating that the Ukraine war was a significant motivator for IS’s terrorism. IS had been simulating terror attacks in Europe for several months, but most failed. However, Russia was a different story. Russia’s diversion of resources towards the war effort created a security vacuum, making it easier for IS to execute attacks on Russian territory. Vera Mironova, a Harvard professor specializing in Islamic terrorism, told the Financial Times in an interview, “Attacking Moscow was relatively easy.”