Republic of Chechnya - 2008. Girls in traditional costumes dance during the inauguration of the new airport in Grozny © Davide Monteleone/VII

South Ossetia - 2008. Queueing for bread in the capital in the weeks following the clashes between Georgians and Russians.. Claimed by Georgia, and de facto independent, South Ossetia, is recognized Sovereign state by Russia in the August 26th 2008, followed by Nicaragua and Venezuela © Davide Monteleone/VII

South Ossetia - 08/2008 - Buildings destroyed by Georgian bombing in the center of Tskhinvali. On the night of 8th August 2008, Georgia launched a military offensive to regain his control on the disputed region. A few hours later, Russia counterattacked and a flash conflict started around the capital region © Davide Monteleone/VII

South Ossetia, 2008. A woman celebrating the recognition of independence by Russia. Claimed by Georgia, and de facto independent, South Ossetia, is recognized Sovereign state by Russia in the August 26th 2008, followed by Nicaragua and Venezuela © Davide Monteleone/VII

Abkhazia - 10/2008. Days of celebration of victory against the Georgians in 1993 and recognition of independence by Russia. A militiaman patrolling the Kodori Valley. The valley is only recently under the control of Abkhazia and still clashes occur. Russian peacekeepers should secure the area © Davide Monteleone/VII

Abkhazia - 10/2008. Days of celebration of victory against the Georgians in 1993 and recognition of independence by Russia. A wedding in the countryside of Ochinchira © Davide Monteleone/VII

Abkhazia - 10/2008. Days of celebration of victory against the Georgians in 1993 and recognition of independence by Russia. A man from the abkhazian diaspora in Turkey inside a bar in Suhkumi © Davide Monteleone/VII

Abkhazia - 10/2008. Days of celebration of victory against the Georgians in 1993 and recognition of independence by Russia. A militiaman patrolling the Kodori Valley. The valley is only recently under the control of Abkhazia and still clashes occur. Russian peacekeepers should secure the area © Davide Monteleone/VII

Republic of Dagestan, Russia 2009. In the village of Gimri during the sacrifice of a bull. Between 2nd and 5th of January 2006 in the village which was also the native village of “Imam Shamil”, was put into a ferocious offensive of 3000 the Russian government forces against a group of 30 armed rebels, following the attempted murder of Assistant Commissioner of Ministry of Interior. The village has been blocked by federal forces until the end of 2008 and have been numerous cases of abuse, torture and violation of human rights in the village © Davide Monteleone/VII

Republic of the Dagestan, Russia - 2009. A woman during the celebration of the Maulid. The Maulid is an individual or collective prayer for to the appreciation of the mercy of Allah © Davide Monteleone/VII

Republic of Ingushetia, 2010. Inside a car in the Prigorodny district. During the ‘summer and fall of 1992 ethnic conflict started between the Ingush and the Ossetians. Ingush fighters attacked the district on the night of October 30th and took control of the periphery of the North Ossetian capital Vladikavkaz. 31st October 1992 the Russian forces sent peace keeper in the area, but they clearly parried for the Ossetian side. On November the 2nd president Boris Yeltsin declared the district part of North Ossetia. The hostility of this conflict resulted in 590 dead, 1000 injured, 1200 hostages, 65000 Ingush refugees and 9000 Ossetians. The area is still in dispute and the territory is controlled by the military forces of the Russian Federation © Davide Monteleone/VII

Republic of Ingushetia 01/2010 - Nazran. A woman refugee from Chechnya. At the height of the crisis after the second Chechen war, an estimated of 240,000 refugees from Chechnya moved in Ingushetia, with the result that it almost doubled the population of the country already among the most poor of Russia. An estimated 325,000 people have fled to Ingushetia from Chechnya after the first and second conflict. In October 1999, the border between the two republics was closed by the Russian military and a convoy of refugees was hit by a bomb after being rejected at the border. At the moment around 20,000 Chechens are in Ingushetia and many are still trying to integrate rather than return to Chechnya © Davide Monteleone/VII