Shamil Basayev facts for kids
Shamil Salmanovich Basayev (Chechen: Салман ВоӀ Шамиль; Russian: Шамиль Салманович Басаев; born January 14, 1965 – died July 10, 2006), also known as "Abu Idris," was a key military commander in the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. He held the rank of brigadier general in the Chechen armed forces. He was known for planning and leading important military actions, including the recapture of Grozny in 1996. Basayev was involved in many significant and often violent conflicts during his time.
Quick facts for kids
Shamil Basayev
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Basayev on the last day of the Budyonnovsk raid on 19 June 1995
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| Prime Minister of Ichkeria | |
| In office 1 January 1998 – 3 July 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Aslan Maskhadov |
| Succeeded by | Aslan Maskhadov |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 January 1965 Dyshne-Vedeno, Checheno–Ingush ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | 10 July 2006 (aged 41) Ekazhevo, Ingushetia, Russia |
| Nickname | Abdullah Shamil Abu-Idris |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus Chechen Republic of Ichkeria |
| Years of service | 1991–2006 |
| Commands | Armed Forces of Ichkeria Islamic Peacekeeping Brigade Caucasian Front Riyadus-Salihiin |
| Battles/wars | Georgian-Abkhazian conflict
First Nagorno-Karabakh War Battle of Grozny (November 1994)
Dagestan War
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Contents
Early Life and Background
Shamil Basayev was born in 1965 in the village of Dyshne-Vedeno, located in southeastern Chechnya. His family was from the Belghatoy group of Chechens. He was named after Imam Shamil, a famous leader who fought against Russian rule in the Caucasian War.
Family History and Chechen Resistance
Basayev's family had a long history of being involved in Chechen resistance. His ancestors fought against invaders and Russian rule for centuries. For example, an ancestor fought Timur in the 14th century. A great-great-great-grandfather served under Imam Shamil and died fighting the Czar. Another great-grandfather died fighting the Bolsheviks. His grandfather also fought to create a separate North Caucasian Emirate after the Russian Revolution of 1917.
During World War II, Basayev's family, like most Chechens, was forced to move to Kazakhstan. This was an act of ethnic cleansing ordered by the Soviet government. They were only allowed to return to Chechnya in 1957.
Education and Early Work
Basayev loved playing football. He finished school in Dyshne-Vedeno in 1982 when he was 17. After school, he spent two years in the Soviet military as a firefighter.
For the next four years, he worked on a state farm called Aksaiisky in the Volgograd region of southern Russia. Later, he moved to Moscow. He tried to study law at Moscow State University but did not get in. Instead, he joined the Moscow Engineering Institute of Land Management in 1987. However, he was expelled in 1988 because of poor grades. After that, he worked as a computer salesman in Moscow with a Chechen businessman named Supyan Taramov.
His Role in Conflicts
In August 1991, some hardline members of the Soviet government tried to take control in a coup d'état. Basayev reportedly supported Russian President Boris Yeltsin and joined those defending the Russian White House in Moscow.
Early Actions and Leadership
A few months later, in November 1991, the Chechen leader Dzhokhar Dudayev declared Chechnya's independence from Russia. In response, Yeltsin sent troops to the border of Chechnya. This is when Basayev began his work as an insurgent, trying to get the world's attention to the situation.
He started as a field commander in the Transcaucasus region. Basayev led groups fighting against Russian forces for many years. He also led actions that involved taking civilians. His main goal was to make Russian soldiers leave Chechnya.
Political Involvement
In December 1996, Basayev stepped down from his military role to run for president in Chechnya. This was the first and only internationally watched presidential election for the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Basayev came in second place, losing to Aslan Maskhadov.
In early 1997, Maskhadov appointed Basayev as the deputy Prime Minister of Chechnya. In January 1998, Basayev became the acting head of the Chechen government for six months. He then resigned. During his time in government, Basayev reduced the number of government departments. However, tax collection and the national bank's money decreased, and theft of oil products increased.
Maskhadov and Basayev worked together until 1998. Then, Basayev created his own network of military officers, who became rival leaders. As Chechnya faced more problems, Basayev's reputation changed. He was seen as a main political opponent of the Chechen president. On March 31, 1998, Basayev called for an end to talks with Russia. On July 7, 1998, he resigned from his post as Chechen Prime Minister.
Key Military Engagements
Basayev became a very important leader among Chechen military commanders. He was seen as a top leader of the Chechen groups fighting for independence. He was involved in several major events, including the Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis in 1995 and the Beslan school siege in 2004. He was also responsible for many attacks on security forces in and around Chechnya. He was also involved in the 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis and the 2004 Russian aircraft bombings. ABC News described him as "one of the most-wanted individuals in the world."
His Later Years and Death
Starting in 2003, Basayev began using the name "Emir Abdullah Shamil Abu-Idris." He died in an explosion in July 2006. Investigations suggested that his death happened when a landmine he was looking at exploded. Russian officials also claimed that one of the trucks used was set to explode, which destroyed weapons and killed Basayev.
On December 29, 2006, experts confirmed Basayev's remains.
Personal Life
Basayev had four wives.
In May 1995, eleven members of Basayev's family were killed in a Russian air raid. He also lost his home in the same attack.
He lost a leg in 2000 during the Second Chechen War.
His younger brother, Shirvani Basayev, who fought alongside him, now lives in Turkey.
Book of a Mujahideen
After the First Chechen War, Basayev wrote a book called Book of a Mujahideen. In the introduction, he mentioned that in March 2003, he read The Manual of the Warrior of Light by Paulo Coelho. He wanted to adapt some ideas from this book for his fighters. He decided to "rewrite most of it, remove some excesses and strengthen all of it with verses (ayats), hadiths and stories from the lives of the disciples." Some parts of his book specifically talk about military tactics like ambushes.
Images for kids
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Basayev on the last day of the Budyonnovsk raid on 19 June 1995
See also
