Ramzan Akhmadov

The fifth of the seven Akhmadov brothers. He began his military career in Abkhazia, fighting as a volunteer in the international brigades of the Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus.[1]

Between 1993 and 1994, Akhmadov formed an Islamist group, the Urus-Martan Jamaat, which repelled the Russian army's invasion of West Chechnya during the First Chechen War[2]

In the interwar period, Akhmadov was among the supporters of the Islamic Revolution, taking control of the Urus-Martanovsky District. Here Akhmadov tried to establish Sharia law, set up mujahideen bases and carried out public executions.[3] In particular, in the summer of 1998, in the central square of Urus-Martan, the death sentence of a Sharia court was carried out by shooting a resident of the neighbouring village of Gekhi, who murdered an elderly woman and her granddaughter for the purpose of robbery.[4]

Akhmadov's radical positions and his open dislike of President Maskhadov's political path put him on a collision course with the authorities. In March 1998, this confrontation escalated into open conflict in Urus-Martan, at which time 260 fighters under the command of Khunkar-Pasha Israpilov attacked Akhmadov's house at night, but the assault ended in defeat for Maskhadov's supporters.[5] After these events, Akhmadov publicly declared that thieves, munafiqs and traitors had seized power in the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.[6]

In August 1999, Akhmadov was among the initiators and chief commanders of the invasion of Dagestan, which culminated in the start of a new war with Russia.[7]

In the Second Chechen War, Akhmadov led an Islamic brigade created directly from members of the Urus-Martan Jamaat. He fought major battles for Grozny, Argun and Shatoy before he was killed by Russian special forces.[8][9][10][11] [12]