After Aslan Maskhadov: Chechnya searches for a post-Maskhadov identity

Weren’t you my President?

Earlier this month, veteran Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov was killed in a bunker in a remote Chechen village, ending what many believe to be the last hope for a peaceful end to the conflict with Russia (now in its fifth century). Not everyone shared Russian jubilation (Poland called it “a political stupidity and a gross mistake” and Maskhadov’s former Foreign Minister is living safely in Washington DC).

Reportedly, Russia offered $10 million for information leading to his capture and plan to dump his body in an unmarked grave (and though there were doubts about the claimed capture site, the Russians blew it up anyway). Legitimately elected the first President of Chechnya in 1997 (though not granted full independence by Boris Yeltsin), Maskhadov began waging a war of attrition along with fellow rebel Shamil Basayev, blamed for acts of terrorism in Moscow and neighbouring Dagestan and Ingushetia before being driven from power by Russia (subsequent elections have met with mixed reviews by international observers).

Demonised by Russian President Vladimir Putin and hunted by scores of troops, Maskhadov’s complex relationship with the more brutal (and extremist) Basayev often pitted him as the moderate rebel (he called the Beslan hostage takers, which Basayev is linked to, “madmen” and constantly sought negotiations with Russia). According to Basayev, Maskhadov was tracked by his unguarded mobile phone conversations (tumors or otherwise, those things will kill you), though Basayev himself has been linked to assassination attempts on Mashkhadov.

In fact, Chechens generally worry that Basayev will call the shots and that the situation will only get worse. “If up until now Maskhadov’s initiatives were a certain restraining factor on Basayev, then now the radical fighters of whom Basayev is leader will have complete freedom,” says politicial analyst Murad Magomadov. “What that means has been illustrated by the Nord Ost theatre siege and Beslan.”

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com. He is based in London, England.