Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev Яндарбин Абдулмуслиман кант Зелимха
2nd President of Chechnya
In office April 21, 1996 – February 12, 1997
Vice President(s)	Aslan Maskhadov
Preceded by	Dzokhar Dudayev
Succeeded by	Aslan Maskhadov
Born	September 12, 1952 Vydrika, Soviet Union
Died	February 13, 2004 Doha, Qatar
Nationality	Chechen
Political party	Vainakh Democratic Party

Zelimkhan Abdumuslimovich Yandarbiyev (Chechen: Яндарбин Абдулмуслиман кант Зелимха, Russian: Зелимхан Абдумуслимович Яндарбиев) (September 12, 1952 – February 13, 2004) was an acting president of the breakaway Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (1996-1997). Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This is a list of Presidents of the unrecognised Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, a separatist movement that controlled most of Chechnya from 1991 to 1999 (see First Chechen War, Second Chechen War). ... is the 111th day of the year (112th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Aslan Maskhadov Aslan Aliyevich Maskhadov (Russian: Аслан Алиевич Масхадов) (September 21, 1951 – March 8, 2005) was a leader of the separatist movement in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya. ... Dzhokhar Dudaev and his son Dzhokhar Dudaev and his family Dzhokhar Musayevich Dudayev (Chechen Latin: Dzoxar Dudayev; Cyrillic: Джоха́р Муса́евич Дуда́ев, 15 April 1944 – 21 April 1996) was a Soviet Air Force general and a Chechen leader, the first president of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, an unrecognized breakaway state in the North... Aslan Maskhadov Aslan Aliyevich Maskhadov (Russian: Аслан Алиевич Масхадов) (September 21, 1951 – March 8, 2005) was a leader of the separatist movement in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya. ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Qatar. ... Doha (Arabic: , transliteration: or ), population 400,051 (2005 census), is the capital of Qatar and is at , on the Persian Gulf. ... // Geography The Chechen people are mainly inhabitants of Chechnya, which is internationally recognized as part of Russia. ... The Chechen language has about 1,200,000 speakers, most of whom live in Russia. ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An Acting president is a person who temporarily fills the role of an organizations president, either when the real president is unavailable (for example ill or on vacation) or when the post is vacant (for example because of death, injury, resignation, or dismissal). ... Official language Chechen Capital Grozny (Dzhokharabad, after 1996) President Doku Umarov Independence  â€“ Declared  â€“ Recognition From Russia  â€“ November 1, 1991  â€“ Georgian Republic National anthem Death or Freedom The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria IPA: (Нохчийн Республика Нохчийчоь) is the unrecognized secessionist government of Chechnya. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Political career

Originally a literary scholar, poet and children's author Yandarbiyev became a leader in the Chechen nationalist movement as the Soviet Union began to collapse. In May 1990, he founded and led the Vainakh Democratic Party (VDV), the first Chechen party, which was committed to an independent Chechnya. The VDV initially represented both Chechen and Ingush until their split after Chechnya's declaration of independence from the RSFSR. A scholar is either a student or someone who has achieved a mastery of some academic discipline, perhaps receiving financial support through a scholarship. ... The poor poet A poet is a person who writes poetry. ... This article covers the Chechen people as an ethnic group, not Chechen meaning citizens of Chechnya. ... Nationalism is an ideology that creates and sustains a nation as a concept of a common identity for groups of humans. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Political parties Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... The Ingush are a people of the northern Caucasus, mostly inhabiting the Russian republic of Ingushetia. ... A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. ... State motto: Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Workers of the world, unite!) Official language None (Russian in practice) Capital Moscow Chairman of the Supreme...

In November 1990 he became a deputy chairman to the newly formed All-National Congress of the Chechen People, which was led by Dzhokhar Dudayev and which ousted the Soviet-era leadership. With Dudayev, he signed an agreement with Ingush leaders splitting the joint Chechen-Ingush republic in two. In the first Chechen parliament, from 1991-1993, Yandarbiyev headed the media committee. Since 1991 he served as Vice-President of the self-proclaimed republic. A Chairman is the presiding officer of a meeting, organization, committee, or other deliberative body. ... The All-National Congress of the Chechen People (NCChP) of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria came to power on November 1, 1991 under president Dzhokhar Dudayev, a former commander of the Soviet air force base in Tartu, Estonia. ... Dzhokhar Dudayev and his son (killed few days after the invasion of Chechnya) Dzhokhar Dudayev and his family Dzhokhar Musayevich Dudayev (Chechen: ; Cyrillic: Дудин Муса кант Жовхар, Russian: Джохар Мусаевич Дудаев) (February 1944 – April 21, 1996) was a Soviet Air Force general and a Chechen leader, the first President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, an unrecognized... A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modelled after that of the United Kingdom. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... A committee is a (relatively) small group that can serve one of several functions: Governance: in organizations too large for all the members to participate in decisions affecting the organization as a whole, a committee (such as a Board of Directors) is given the power to make decisions. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... A vice president is an officer in government or business who is next in rank below a president. ...

War and radicalisation

Yandarbiev during the war

During the 1994-1996 First Chechen War, Yandarbiyev had little connection with military operations, spending his time writing books on the independence effort. In April 1996, following the assassination of his predecessor Dzhokhar Dudayev, he became an acting President. Except for his personal bodyguards, he never had a military unit of his own. In late May 1996, Yandarbiyev headed a Chechen delegation that met Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin for peace talks that resulted in the signature of a ceasefire agreement on May 27, 1996. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Selective assassination be merged into this article or section. ... An Acting president is a person who temporarily fills the role of an organizations president, either when the real president is unavailable (for example ill or on vacation) or when the post is vacant (for example because of death, injury, resignation, or dismissal). ... Bodyguards of Viktor Yushchenko (far left) after leaving Gdansk city hall. ... List of Presidents of Russia Boris Yeltsin1 (July 10, 1991 – December 31, 1999) two terms. ... Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin (Russian: ) (February 1, 1931 – April 23, 2007[1]) was the first president of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of a cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin (Russian: Ви́ктор Степа́нович Черномы́рдин) (born April 9, 1938) is a Russian politician. ... A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war or any armed conflict, where each side of the conflict agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. ... is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

Yandarbiyev stood in presidential elections held in Chechnya in February 1997 but was defeated by Aslan Maskhadov, a senior military leader, getting only 10 per cent of the votes. He took part of signing of the peace treaty in Moscow on May 12, 1997. The two men fell out badly the following year, when Yandarbiyev was accused of being behind an assassination attempt against Maskhadov. In September 1998, Maskhadov publicly denounced Yandarbiyev, accusing him of importing the radical Islamic philosophy of Wahhabism and of being responsible for "anti-state activities" including anti-government speeches and public meetings, as well as the organisation of illegal armed groups. Yandarbiyev subsequently joined forces with the hard-line Islamist opposition to Maskhadov's rule. An election is a process in which a vote is held to choose amongst candidates to fill an office, or amongst political parties offering a slate of potential office holders for a house of representatives. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Aslan Maskhadov Aslan Aliyevich Maskhadov (Russian: Аслан Алиевич Масхадов) (September 21, 1951 – March 8, 2005) was a leader of the separatist movement in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya. ... A peace treaty is an agreement (a peace treaty) between two hostile parties, usually countries or governments, that formally ends a war or armed conflict. ... Position of Moscow in Europe Coordinates: , Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Government  - Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Area  - City 1,081 km²  (417. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... The phrase Islamic fundamentalism is primarily used in the West to describe Islamist groups. ... Wahhabism (Arabic: Al-WahhābÄ«yya الوهابية, Wahabism, Wahabbism) is a branch of Islam practiced by those who follow the teachings of Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab, after whom the movement is named. ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ...

Yandarbiyev was seen as a key figure behind the 1999 attack by Shamil Basayev's coalition of Islamist guerrillas on the neighboring Russian republic of Dagestan [1]. That led to the start of Second Chechen War in late 1999, following which Yandarbiyev traveled abroad to Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates and eventually settled in Qatar in 2001, where he sought to obtain Muslim support for the Chechen cause. Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Shamil Basayev in Dagestan, 1999 Shamil Salmanovich Basayev (Russian: Шамиль Салманович Басаев) (January 14, 1965 – July 10, 2006) was a Vice-President of the internationally unrecognized separatist government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Islamist guerrilla leader, self-admitted terrorist and a national hero for many Chechens. ... The Republic of Dagestan IPA: (Russian: ; Avar: , Daɣistanłul Džumħuriyat), older spelling Daghestan, is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic). ... Combatants Russian Federation Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Strength At least 93,000 in Chechnya in 1999 About 30,000 in Chechnya in 2007 (mostly MVD) 10,000 to 20,000 in 1999 (including private militias) 700 in Chechnya in 2007 (Russian est. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Exile

Yandarbiyev was a cause of considerable friction between Russia and Qatar, which refused to extradite Yandarbiyev despite an Interpol arrest warrant issued in 2001.^{[citation needed]} He was also mentioned by Russia on a United Nations list of groups and people with suspected links to the al-Qaeda organisation and is said to have had contacts with the Taliban movement in Afghanistan.^{[citation needed]} This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Al-Qaeda (Arabic: القاعدة, the foundation or the base) is the name given to a worldwide network of militant Islamist organizations under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. ... The Taliban (Pashto: , students or seekers of knowledge) are a group that ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, when their leaders were removed from power by American aerial bombardment and Northern Alliance ground forces. ...

He was believed to have been a key figure in the international network of Chechen separatist fundraisers in the Islamic world.^{[citation needed]} He was also accused by the Russian government of involvement in the October 2002 Moscow Theatre Siege, in which around 120 hostages and guerrillas were killed [2]. For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... On Wednesday, October 23, 2002, 40 Chechen terrorists seized a crowded Moscow theatre, taking over 700 hostages and demanding the withdrawal of Russian forces from Chechnya. ... A hostage is an entity which is held by a captor in order to compel another party to act or refrain from acting in a particular way. ... Guerrilla (also called a partisan) is a term borrowed from Spanish (from guerra meaning war) used to describe small combat groups. ...

Assassination

On February 13, 2004, Yandarbiyev was assassinated when a bomb ripped through his SUV in the Qatari capital, Doha. Two of his bodyguards were killed as well, and his 12-year-old son Daud was seriously injured. is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A fourth-generation (2006-) Ford Explorer, the best-selling mid-size SUV in the United States. ... Doha (Arabic: , transliteration: or ), population 400,051 (2005 census), is the capital of Qatar and is at , on the Persian Gulf. ...

It was initially unclear who was responsible for the blast, but suspicion fell on SVR or GRU, denying any involvement, or internal feuding among the Chechen rebel leadership. Maskhadov's separatist Foreign Ministry condemned the assassination as a "Russian terrorist attack", comparing it to the 1996 attack that killed Dudayev. The car bomb led to Qatar's first anti-terrorism law, declaring lethal terrorist acts punishable by death or life imprisonment. Sluzhba Vneshney Razvedki (Служба внешней разведки) (SVR) is Russian for Foreign Intelligence Service and is the name of Russias primary external intelligence agency. ... For other uses, see GRU (disambiguation). ... Rebel may mean: A participant in a rebellion, see Rebellion. ... Car bomb in Iraq, made from a number of concealed artillery shells in the back of a pickup truck. ... Anti-terrorism is a philosophical antithesis that emerges from a thorough examining of the concept of terrorism as well as an attempt to understand and articulate what constitutes terrorism. ... ... Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime, nominally for the entire remaining life of the prisoner, but in fact for a period which varies between jurisdictions: many countries have a maximum possible period of time (usually seven years) a prisoner may be incarcerated, or require the...

On June 1, 2004, Leonid Parfyonov, one of the leading NTV journalists, was fired from the channel allegedly for making public the decision of the channel direction that had forbidden him to present a TV interview with Malika Yandarbiyev, widow of Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev.^[1][2] June 1 is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Russian NTV channel (НТВ in Cyrillic) was a pioneer in the post-Soviet independent television media. ...

Russian agents

On February 19 the Qatari authorities arrested three Russians in the Russian embassy villa for the murders. One of them, the first secretary of the Russian Embassy in Qatar, Aleksandr Fetisov, was released in March allegedly due to his diplomatic status and the remaining two GRU agents: Anatoly Yablochkov (also known as Belashkov) and Vasily Pugachyov (sometimes misspelled as Bogachyov), were charged with the assassination of Yandarbiyev, assassination attempt of his son Daud and smuggling weapons into Qatar. According to Moscow, Yablochkov and Pugachyov were secret intelligence agents sent to the Russian Embassy in Doha to collect information about global terrorism. Russia’s acting Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov pledged state support to the suspects and declared that their imprisonment was illegal.^[3] There were some speculations that Aleksandr Fetisov had been released in exchange for Qatari wrestlers detained in Moscow on February 28.^[4] February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one nation state present in another nation state to represent the sending state in the receiving State. ... A villa was originally an upper-class country house, though since its origins in Roman times the idea and function of a villa has evolved considerably. ... A skirmish with smugglers from Finland at the Russian border, 1853, by Vasily Hudiakov. ... Position of Moscow in Europe Coordinates: , Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Government  - Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Area  - City 1,081 km²  (417. ... Sergei Ivanov at a press conference following the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, Colorado Springs - 9 October 2003 June 6, 2002 Sergei Borisovich Ivanov (Серге́й Бори́сович Ивано́в in Russian) (born January 31, 1953, Leningrad) is a first deputy prime minister of Russia and former minister of defense (March 2001-February 2007). ... February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The trial proceedings were closed to the public after the defendants claimed that one of the prosecution witnesses, the Qatari Colonel Dawi or Dawdi, had tortured them in the first days after their arrest, when they had been held incommunicado; the two Russians alleged that they had suffered beatings, sleep deprivation and attacks by guard dogs. Based on these torture allegations and the fact that the two officers were arrested within an extraterritorial compound belonging to the Russian Embassy (i.e. effectively on Russian soil), Russia demanded the immediate release of its citizens; they were represented by the attorney of the law firm founded by Nikolai Yegorov, a friend and fellow student of Vladimir Putin at Leningrad State University.^[5] The Qatari prosecutors concluded that the suspects had received the order to eliminate Zelimkhan Yandarbiev from Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov personally.^[6] On June 30, 2004 both Russians were sentenced to life imprisonment; passing the sentence, the judge stated that they had acted on orders from the Russian leadership. ^[7][8][9] Criminal law (also known as penal law) is the body of law that regulates governmental sanctions (such as imprisonment and/or fines) as retaliation for crimes against the social order. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Torture is defined by the United Nations Convention Against Torture as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he... Sleep deprivation is a general lack of the necessary amount of sleep. ... A guard dog or watch dog is a dog employed to guard against, or watch for, unwanted or unexpected animals or people. ... Extraterritoriality is the state of being exempt from the jurisdiction of local law, usually as the result of diplomatic negotiations. ... An attorney is someone who represents someone else in the transaction of business: For attorney-at-law, see lawyer, solicitor, barrister or civil law notary. ... Nikolay Dmitriyevich Yegorov (Russian: ; 1951-1997) was a Russian politician. ... Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (Russian: ) (born October 7, 1952) is the current President of Russia. ... Saint Petersburg State University (Санкт-Петербургский Государственный Университет) is one of the oldest Russian educational institutions, established in the city of Saint Petersburg on January 28, 1724 by a decree of Peter the Great. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime, nominally for the entire remaining life of the prisoner, but in fact for a period which varies between jurisdictions: many countries have a maximum possible period of time (usually seven years) a prisoner may be incarcerated, or require the... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The verdict caused severe tensions between Qatar and Russia, and on December 23, 2004, Qatar agreed to extradite the prisoners to Russia, where they would serve out their life sentence. The agents received a heroes' welcome on returning to Moscow in January 2005 but disappeared from public view shortly afterwards. The Russian prison authorities admitted in February 2005 that they were not in jail, but said that a sentence handed down in Qatar was irrelevant in Russia. ^[10] December 23 is the 357th day of the year (358th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Extradition is a formal process by which a criminal suspect held by one government is handed over to another government for trial or, if the suspect has already been tried and found guilty, to serve his or her sentence. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References and notes

The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... June 3 is the 154th day of the year (155th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kommersant (Cyrillic: Коммерсантъ) (which literally translates as The Businessman) was a commerce-oriented newspaper published in Russia. ... May 31 is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lenta. ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (63rd in leap years). ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kommersant (Cyrillic: Коммерсантъ) (which literally translates as The Businessman) was a commerce-oriented newspaper published in Russia. ... is the 84th day of the year (85th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 11 is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kommersant (Cyrillic: Коммерсантъ) (which literally translates as The Businessman) was a commerce-oriented newspaper published in Russia. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Vainakh

Ethno-Linguistic groups in the Caucasus region. ...

External links

• Obiturary. Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev. Poet and writer turned Chechen separatist politician Chechen Times
• The Assassination of Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev: Implications for the War on Terrorism Jamestown Foundation