This podcast episode dives into the history and current state of Chechnya, a semi-autonomous republic of Russia. It covers Chechnya's conversion to Islam, its conquest by Imperial Russia, and its incorporation into the Soviet Union. The episode explores Vladimir Putin's rise to power in Russia, including his background as a KGB spy and his selection as Boris Yeltsin's successor. The episode also discusses the First and Second Chechen Wars, the apartment bombings in Russia in 1999, and their impact on the Chechnya conflict. It sheds light on the brutal regime of Ramzan Kadyrov, the current leader of Chechnya, and the human rights abuses taking place under his rule.