The author explores the nature & causes of suicide terrorism in Russia since 2000. He undertakes to demonstrate why the Kremlin’s preferred explanation for suicide terrorism is misleading in its oversimplification of terrorist motives & its attempts to deflect blame away from the government itself. Indeed, the author highlights significant human rights abuses on the part of the Russian government over the past 5 years as a key factor in radicalizing Chechen civilians, particularly women, to suicide terrorism.