After a mass brawl

What actually makes Viennese Chechens tick

A mass brawl involving Chechens caused a stir at the weekend. There are many myths surrounding the ethnic group. These are often fed. 

When the word "Chechen" is mentioned, many Austrians immediately start to think. Since Russia's terrible campaign of extermination against this country, many myths and prejudices have grown up around this ethnic group - and they rarely have a positive connotation. We therefore set out in search of clues - after all, Austria is an important destination for Chechen emigrants.

The brawl after the boxing match at the weekend once again gave rise to many prejudices about Chechens.(Bild: Mario Urbantschitsch)

All Russians on paper
And this is where the first problem arises: Chechnya is a republic within the Russian Federation - its citizens are listed in statistics as Russians. According to experts, however, it can be assumed that the majority of asylum applications from the Russian Federation in Austria are Chechens. This is according to a research report published by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) in 2023.

Up to 40,000

Chechens live in Austria. Vienna has by far the largest community, with every second Chechen in Austria living in Vienna. Second place goes to Lower Austria with 10 percent.

Second largest community after France
The report comes to the following conclusion: the population with a Chechen migration history in Austria is estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 people, half of whom live in Vienna. Most Chechens came to Austria as refugees during and after the second Chechen war (1999 to 2009), where there is now the second largest Chechen community in Europe after France. In recent years, however, the number of asylum applications and positive decisions from Russian citizens has fallen significantly.

The Chechen minority at a glance(Bild: Krone KREATIV, stock.adobe.com)

Traditional Islamic values and roles
However, the integration of the Chechens living here is not going smoothly. Chechens like to keep to themselves. This is the conclusion of the ÖIF research report. Chechens in Austria emphasize the family as a central social point of reference. Traditional values and gender roles continue to characterize many families, although younger generations are increasingly beginning to question these.

Young men identify strongly with the image of the "tough Chechen", the fearless freedom fighter.

Bericht zu Tschetschenen in Österreich

Lack of points of contact
For many, religion (Islam) is an important part of identity that is lived privately and individually. Many young Chechens feel lost and marginalized in the Austrian school system. High educational goals often fail due to language barriers. A lack of points of contact and misunderstandings exacerbate the situation.

Pathos of the "tough freedom fighter"
Pathos is also very important within the minority. Young men in particular identify with the image of the "tough Chechen", not least in order to gain status and recognition within young migrant subcultures. To a certain extent, they fall back on the image of the battle-hardened and fearless Chechen freedom fighter - although many have not even experienced the war themselves.