The Chechens and the Ingush speak languages that are closely related and have a degree of passive intelligibility , both being Vainakh languages . The Chechen-Russian conflict is one of the longest and most protracted conflicts in modern history , spanning three centuries . Its origins date back to 1785 , when the Chechens fought against Russian expansionism into the Caucasus . The Caucasus War was fought between 1817 and 1864 . The Russian Empire succeeded in annexing the area and subjugating its people , but also killed or deported numerous non-Russian peoples and was responsible for the Circassian genocide . The Circassians , the Ubykh and the Abaza were subsequently resettled to the Ottoman Empire . However , other Caucasus people were affected as well . There were up to 1.5 million Chechens in the Caucasus in 1847 , but as a result of this war and ensuing expulsions , their number dropped to 140,000 in 1861 , and then further to 116,000 in 1867 . In 1865 , at least 39,000 Chechens were exiled to the Ottoman Empire by the Russian Empire
Circassian genocide
Circassian genocide
Deportation of the Chechens and Ingush