Page "Chechnya" Paragraph 6

In 1785, Russia and the eastern Georgian kingdom of Kartl-Kakheti ( which was devastated by Turkish and Persian invasions ) signed the Treaty of Georgievsk, according to which Kartl-Kakheti received protection from Russia.

In order to secure communications with Georgia and other regions of the Transcaucasia, the Russian Empire began spreading its influence into the Caucasus mountains.

The current resistance to Russian rule has its roots in the late 18th century ( 1785 – 1791 ), a period when Russia expanded into territories formerly under the dominion of Turkey and Persia ( see also the Russo-Turkish Wars and Russo-Persian War ( 1804 – 1813 )), under Mansur Ushurma — a Chechen Naqshbandi ( Sufi ) Sheikh — with wavering support from other North Caucasian tribes.

Mansur hoped to establish a Transcaucasus Islamic state under shari ' a law, but was unable to fully achieve this because in the course of the war he was wounded and captured, and for unknown reasons, died.

Its banner was again picked up by the Avar Imam Shamil, who fought against the Russians from 1834 until 1859.