The Sulim Yamadaev –Ramzan Kadyrov power struggle was a feud between rival pro-Moscow Chechen warlords that exploded into armed confrontation between Yamadaev's Special Battalion "Vostok" (East) forces and Chechen President Kadyrov's militia known as the "Kadyrovtsy" following an incident in the town of Argun that led to a shootout in Gudermes on 14 April 2008. The struggle resulted in the eventual disbanding of the Vostok battalion and Yamadaev's assassination in Dubai on 30 March 2009. Background Following the assassination of his brother Dzhabrail Yamadaev in 2003, Sulim was appointed commander of the Special Battalion Vostok, a unit of previously separatist fighters from the First Chechen War that had switched sides and fought alongside Russian forces in the Second Chechen War in 1999. The core of the Vostok battalion were former rebels from the 2nd Battalion of National Guard of Ichkeria, which Sulim Yamadaev commanded during the interwar presidency of Aslan Maskhadov. That particular unit was most noted for its near-destruction of the radical Wahabbi “Sharia Regiment" led by renegade Chechen warlord Arbi Barayev in Gudermes in the summer of 1998. Directly subordinate to Russian military intelligence (GRU), Vostok was operationally included in the Russian Army's 42nd Motor Rifle Division, leaving it outside the Chechen command structure and thus the biggest militia beyond Kadyrov's control. Fallout In the immediate aftermath of the Gudermes incident, Kadyrov would publicly accuse the Yamadaev brothers of kidnappings, torture and murders, while demanding that Badrudin Yamadaev be handed over to him. The accusations were supported by Chechen Interior Minister Ruslan Alkhanov, who called Badrudin a "criminal", while Kadyrov pushed the republic's human rights ombudsman, Nurdi Nukhazhiev, to accuse the Vostok commanders of numerous crimes and human rights abuses. Kadyrov also claimed on 17 April that 200 Vostok members had submitted early discharge requests because "they are unwilling to serve under the command of [Sulim] Yamadayev," but would go on to say that he had "advised them not to hurry with the dismissals as the detachment has merits in the fight against international terrorism and there is no sense in terminating contracts because of a commander." In response, Ruslan Yamadaev – an older brother and a deputy to the State Duma from Chechnya – demanded that the Kadyrovtsy be moved out of Gudermes in order to permit the military prosecutor's office to investigate the claims against the Vostok battalion. Throughout May, Kadyrov would attempt to undermine the Vostok battalion in every possible way; mass graves were unearthed repeatedly, and each time the Vostok fighters were immediately accused of being responsible for the murders. On 12 May, Kadyrov suspended Sulim Yamadaev 's command of the battalion, a move officially supported by the Chechen parliament within three days. Later in the month, Chechen utility companies cut off supplies of gas, electricity and water to the Vostok battalion's base in Gudermes, and Kadyrov even received indirect support from Memorial - Russia's most influential human rights organization – when it called for the crimes allegedly committed by members of the Vostok battalion to be fully investigated. On 31 May, Kadyrov announced during a meeting with members of Chechnya's government and the heads of the republic's direct administrations that criminal proceedings were underway against both rank-and-file Vostok members as well as Yamadaev himself. Yet each time Kadyrov acted against the Vostok battalion and Yamadaev , it was refuted by the Russian Defense Ministry. Four days after the announced suspension of Yamadaev , a military official declared that the Vostok battalion had not been disbanded and that Yamadaev was still in command. Also, when Kadyrov declared criminal proceedings against Yamadaev , the Russian Military Prosecutor's Office issued an immediate denial. The most significant statement was made by General Shamanov on 10 June, when he declared that both the Vostok and Zapad battalions would remain intact, saying, "These battalions will certainly remain, because they not only fulfill important missions as part of the Combined Group of Forces in the North Caucasus, but they also carry out peacekeeping missions in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.” This was viewed as yet another setback for Kadyrov.
The Sulim Yamadayev –Ramzan Kadyrov power struggle was a feud between rival pro-Moscow Chechen warlords that exploded into armed confrontation between Yamadaev's Special Battalion "Vostok" (East) forces and Chechen President Kadyrov's militia known as the "Kadyrovtsy" following an incident in the town of Argun that led to a shootout in Gudermes on 14 April 2008. The struggle resulted in the eventual disbanding of the Vostok battalion and Yamadaev's assassination in Dubai on 30 March 2009. Background Following the assassination of his brother Dzhabrail Yamadayev in 2003, Sulim was appointed commander of the Special Battalion Vostok, a unit of previously separatist fighters from the First Chechen War that had switched sides and fought alongside Russian forces in the Second Chechen War in 1999. The core of the Vostok battalion were former rebels from the 2nd Battalion of National Guard of Ichkeria, which Sulim Yamadaev commanded during the interwar presidency of Aslan Maskhadov. That particular unit was most noted for its near-destruction of the radical Wahabbi “Sharia Regiment" led by renegade Chechen warlord Arbi Barayev in Gudermes in the summer of 1998. Directly subordinate to Russian military intelligence (GRU), Vostok was operationally included in the Russian Army's 42nd Motor Rifle Division, leaving it outside the Chechen command structure and thus the biggest militia beyond Kadyrov's control. Fallout In the immediate aftermath of the Gudermes incident, Kadyrov would publicly accuse the Yamadayev brothers of kidnappings, torture and murders, while demanding that Badrudin Yamadayev be handed over to him. The accusations were supported by Chechen Interior Minister Ruslan Alkhanov, who called Badrudin a "criminal", while Kadyrov pushed the republic's human rights ombudsman, Nurdi Nukhazhiev, to accuse the Vostok commanders of numerous crimes and human rights abuses. Kadyrov also claimed on 17 April that 200 Vostok members had submitted early discharge requests because "they are unwilling to serve under the command of [Sulim] Yamadayev," but would go on to say that he had "advised them not to hurry with the dismissals as the detachment has merits in the fight against international terrorism and there is no sense in terminating contracts because of a commander." In response, Ruslan Yamadaev – an older brother and a deputy to the State Duma from Chechnya – demanded that the Kadyrovtsy be moved out of Gudermes in order to permit the military prosecutor's office to investigate the claims against the Vostok battalion. Throughout May, Kadyrov would attempt to undermine the Vostok battalion in every possible way; mass graves were unearthed repeatedly, and each time the Vostok fighters were immediately accused of being responsible for the murders. On 12 May, Kadyrov suspended Sulim Yamadayev 's command of the battalion, a move officially supported by the Chechen parliament within three days. Later in the month, Chechen utility companies cut off supplies of gas, electricity and water to the Vostok battalion's base in Gudermes, and Kadyrov even received indirect support from Memorial - Russia's most influential human rights organization – when it called for the crimes allegedly committed by members of the Vostok battalion to be fully investigated. On 31 May, Kadyrov announced during a meeting with members of Chechnya's government and the heads of the republic's direct administrations that criminal proceedings were underway against both rank-and-file Vostok members as well as Yamadaev himself. Yet each time Kadyrov acted against the Vostok battalion and Yamadayev , it was refuted by the Russian Defense Ministry. Four days after the announced suspension of Yamadayev , a military official declared that the Vostok battalion had not been disbanded and that Yamadaev was still in command. Also, when Kadyrov declared criminal proceedings against Yamadayev , the Russian Military Prosecutor's Office issued an immediate denial. The most significant statement was made by General Shamanov on 10 June, when he declared that both the Vostok and Zapad battalions would remain intact, saying, "These battalions will certainly remain, because they not only fulfill important missions as part of the Combined Group of Forces in the North Caucasus, but they also carry out peacekeeping missions in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.” This was viewed as yet another setback for Kadyrov.
R
Yamadaev
Yamadayev
R
Yamadaev
Yamadayev
R
Yamadaev
Yamadayev
R
Yamadaev
Yamadayev
R
Yamadaev
Yamadayev
R
Yamadaev
Yamadayev
R
Yamadaev
Yamadayev
R
Yamadaev
Yamadayev