A noticeable rise in insurgent activity has been observed during the summer of 2007. A link may exist with the recent policies of the Chechen leader, Doku Umarov, who has made new leadership appointments within the resistance movement. These changes are aimed at allowing the individual guerrilla units to function more independently and rely less on a central leader.
It is well known that Shamil Basaev tried to concentrate all control over the ethnic-based insurgent groups of the North Caucasus into the hands of the Chechen commanders. This approach was not only militarily successful, but also politically beneficial for the Chechen leadership. The Chechen command was always extremely interested in widening the theater of operations to areas outside of Chechnya and worked hard to coordinate the actions of the various ethnic divisions that were included in the “Caucasus Front” by order of then-president Abdul-Khalim Sadulaev (www.chechenpress.info, May 16, 2005).
The killings of Abdul-Khalim Sadulaev (June 17, 2006) and Shamil Basaev (July 10, 2006) made Doku Umarov’s ability to maintain the same level of control over all of the ethnic units of the resistance less than certain. Despite expectations to the contrary, however, all of the non-Chechen divisions, eventually took an oath of allegiance to the new leader, thus giving him a chance to finish that which was started by his predecessors. Subsequently Umarov traveled to Ingushetia, Kabarda, and Dagestan in order to emphasize his qualifications as the new leader.
By selecting emir Magas (Akhmed Yevloev) as the military commander of the entire Caucasus Front, Doku Umarov has made it easier to energize resistance forces in those regions near Ingushetia (Chechnya, Ossetia, Kabarda). This is important because the commander of the Southwestern Front is Tarkhan Gaziev, another member of the Ingush jamaat. Combined with the extensive control exercised in Dagestan by Rappani Khalilov, this means that Umarov can focus all of his energy on Chechnya proper [Khalilov was reportedly killed by Russian security forces on September 17]. Though there have been few noticeable results as of late, the current distribution of power within the resistance favors an active political stance.
The decrees issued by Doku Umarov over the course of the last two months make it possible to infer what is most important to the leader of the resistance movement at this time. The August decrees focus on foreign policy, with new representatives to Germany and the countries of Northern Europe being appointed (decrees #141-144, signed on August 17). Alla Dudaeva, the widow of Dzhokhar Dudaev, the first president of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, has been appointed as the deputy minister of culture (decree #145, August 17), while Visit Ibragimov, once the deputy of Ichkeria’s vice-president Vakha Arsanov, has become the director of the department for the Vainakh diaspora (decree #146, August 23). It seems probable that these new appointees are intended to infuse some energy into the currently sluggish, almost nonexistent, foreign policy activity. At the moment, almost all international activity has shifted away from the resistance leadership and into the hands of various social and humanitarian organizations.
In September, a new set of decrees was issued (with decree #147 dating from September 4), a number of them surprising and difficult to explain. Exactly six months ago, the position of the Head of the Sharia Court went to Mansur Yevmirzaev (decree #134, March 7), a man well known as an alim, a person knowledgeable in theology and probably also Sharia law (www.daymohk.info, April 27). This man has now been suddenly replaced, the whole issue summed up with a cryptic “due to a transfer to a new position,” an explanation even more puzzling than the initial decree. It is entirely unclear as to what could have been offered to Yevmirzaev as a replacement for his respected and most fitting post. It is to be hoped that the future will provide some explanation of what actually occurred and what led Doku Umarov to replace the man he himself appointed only months earlier.
Yevmirzaev’s removal is nothing compared to the surprising new replacement named by Umarov – Anzor Astermirov (decree #147, September 4), a man that hardly fits the profile of an alim. The key seems to lie not in the qualifications of the leader of the Kabardino-Balkar jamaat for this position, but in the fact that the Head of the Sharia Court is the third-ranking official in the Chechen resistance. If the president and vice-president of the Chechen republic of Ichkeria should die simultaneously, the leadership post automatically passes to the Chief of the High Sharia Court. This appointment, then, makes Astermirov a figure of importance for the whole region.
Anzor Astemirov's jamaat has been particularly active recently, with numerous attacks and bombings in Kabardino-Balkaria. The latest news from Nalchik suggests that the terrorist activity typical of Ingushetia has now moved to the western republics of the North Caucasus. During September 12-13, insurgents fired on a car belonging to the local FSB branch (causing casualties), exploded a bomb near the “Nalchik” hotel, attacked several policemen and instigated a firefight in Nalchik’s suburbs. Since the start of September, these types of events have become commonplace in Kabardino-Balkaria, with most bombings being directed at the police and the FSB (www.stav.kp.ru, September 14).
Another one of Umarov’s September decrees tries to reform one of the least used organs of the resistance movement, the consultative body called the “Shura of the alims of the peoples of the North Caucasus.” Originally intended to be the key ideological organ of the resistance, the Shura has never been an important organization, since few alims were willing to bear the burdens of going into permanent hiding by becoming full-fledged active members. Doku Umarov (decree #149, September 4) placed the Shura under the authority of the general foreign representative of the Chechen republic of Ichkeria and renamed it the “Sharia committee.” This is an attempt to breathe new life into the Shura by moving it overseas, though it is not entirely clear whether such an approach will prove successful. It is true that it would be possible to try to attract those spiritual leaders that now reside abroad, including Magomed Kebedov (the former Dagestani radical leader), Shamsudin Batukaev (the former head of the Sharia court), and others into the new Sharia committee. The decree, however, damages the position of the general foreign representative of Ichkeria, since the linkage between him and the Sharia committee will make many European and Turkish politicians wary of dealing with him.
All of these decrees are aimed at continuing the reorganization of the resistance movement, making it more maneuverable and allowing the leaders of the various ethnic units to move into leadership positions. This is intended to bring about an increase in activity across the whole of the North Caucasus. At the same time, steps are also being taken to mobilize a foreign policy offensive.
I love sheeshan the land of Islam!! And Abdullah aka Shamil basyev may Allah accept him as ashaheed and i wish he is in fardaws al 'ala( the highest jannah) with the rest of the shiuhaada.Ameen.
I have seen recently that there has been an attempt by the media to link Doko Umarov to Al-Qaidah. The reason for this is that the excuse that Russia is fighting "Islamic terror" needs to be maintained. This is not true the Russians are not fighting Islamic Terrorism rather they are fighting true freedome fighters. All terrorist attacks against the Russians on are questionable.
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
May Allah SWT bestow power in the Chechen resistance
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
I wonder, what should think someone like me, someone who dislike truly imperialistic russian goverment ( despotism>?) and who cant indetify with those Chechens who attack innocent russian civilians.
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
you know the Chechens hardly attacked Russian civilians....anyway the appartment bombings are very shady anyway....watch Alexander litvenenko expose it on youtube. Trust me the Chechens are bieng blamed for a lot they didnt do.
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
I wonder, what should think someone like me, someone who dislike truly imperialistic russian goverment ( despotism>?) and who cant indetify with those Chechens who attack innocent russian civilians.
Why not support the elected goverment of Chechnya which has not once had a history of attacking civlians - and interestingly has probably saved more russian lives than anyone else by simply encouraging young chechens to use military means and attack only military targets?
May Allah SWT bestow power in the Chechen resistance
I wonder, what should think someone like me, someone who dislike truly imperialistic russian goverment ( despotism>?) and who cant indetify with those Chechens who attack innocent russian civilians.
So you want to know what they would think?
Read the post below yours and you will see.
The answer is denial. Standard "They don't do that".
Generalizations projected towards muslim Freedom fighters is 'ok' but put all US soldiers or any Western army into one box and 'unfair' 'non sequitur' 'biased' are the terms in circulation.
neither is healthy for one whose life seems to revolve around posting on an internet forum
Ya, I spend too much time on the net. A lot of that time is used reading the news from many sources. You should find some Reliable news sources and see what they have to say.
AHMED_GUREY
As far as generalizations, well your Chechen Terrorists generally attack school kids and people who go to shows, don't they?
You know what Wilber you have a stereotypical view about the Chechens and what they do. Your like the Russian people who think that all Chechens are scum. You know what the Russian Gov have accomplished what they want, and this is to show the Chechen FIghers as terrorist. Dont believe all things about the Chechens.....alot of it is lies created by the FSB. The FSB have killed their own people to make sure that the public think that the Chechens are Islamic Terrerorist and are attacking the Russian homeland. THINK ABOUT it why would the resistence want to shoot themselves in their own feet????????????
Our preperation continued, with our efforts and the efforts of our brothers, for years and years. Through out that time we gathered, observed and waited until the moment to move arrived.
Ya, I spend too much time on the net. A lot of that time is used reading the news from many sources. You should find some Reliable news sources and see what they have to say.
AHMED_GUREY
As far as generalizations, well your Chechen Terrorists generally attack school kids and people who go to shows, don't they?
i could give you a list of western authors to back my point but i doubt you wuld even look into them so i see no reason to do so
you show no serious intention of actually learning what is happening in chechnya but just like to keep harping on about beslan - an event in which the chechen goverment had no hand
what's your take on the alexander litvinenko case? apparently not all the bad stuff done by chechnyans was done by chechnyans at all.
salam
alexander litvenenko became russias enemy after he came out about the apartment bombings in 1999 - russias own 9-11
even at the time of the bombings, russian agents were actually CAUGHT by local police planting bombs in another apartment block - this was actually reported at the time but russia try to cover it up by saying it was some sort of training exercise
as more info came out, it was alexander litvenko who came out and confirmed it was not chechens who carried it out - he was a part of the fsb at the time and was in the know about many of russias secrets
theres actually some good video documentaries on google video about these bombings - and it is generally believed outside of russia that chechns were not behind this
this isnt a conspiracy theory to absolve chechens of any blame or make them all the be saintd - chechns have done some bad things and we have to admit it when they do - beslan for example - but the apartment bombings was not carried out by chechens
inshallah alexander litveneko is a martyr, he knew once he came out - he would become russias no. 1 target and most likely be killed but he did it anyway
i could give you a list of western authors to back my point but i doubt you wuld even look into them so i see no reason to do so
you show no serious intention of actually learning what is happening in chechnya but just like to keep harping on about beslan - an event in which the chechen goverment had no hand
Right, I even read some Chechen Rebel rag that was nothing but propaganda.
If you have any "Real News" source that backs you, I would love to see it.
But not that silly sh** that talks about unknown testing bu Russia that only effects Muslim women.
What are you on about? I have never said anything about the "Chechen government", I have talked about your Chechen terrorist many times though.
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