Russia: A Win in Chechnya, but Not Victory

Shamil Basayev, vice president of the self-proclaimed Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and Russia's most wanted Chechen militant, was killed July 10, the head of Russia's Federal Security Service reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin has much to gain from the news, which comes just ahead of the Group of Eight summit. While the Chechen insurgency is certainly not over, the death of Basayev will strengthen Moscow's position in the region and beyond.