Caucasus Emirate

Former jihadist organisation

Caucasus Emirate (IK)

Имарат Кавказ

Flag used by the Caucasus Emirate

Leaders|

* Dokka Umarov †[1]
* Aliaskhab Kebekov †
* Magomed Suleimanov †

Foundation| 7 October 2007; 17 years ago (2007-10-07)[2]
Dissolved| ?[3]
Active regions| North Caucasus, West Asia
Ideology|

* Pan-Islamism[4]
* Pan-Caucasianism[5]
* Salafist-Takfiri Jihadism[5][6]
* Separatism[5]
* Islamic fundamentalism[5]
* Anti-imperialism[5]

Slogan| «Победа или рай»
(transl. "Victory or Heaven")[7]
Notable attacks|

* Insurgency in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia
* Insurgency in Ingushetia
* Insurgency in the North Caucasus

Size|  Fewer than 1,500 (2010 est.)[8]
Allies|

* Mujahideen in Chechnya
* Riyad-us Saliheen

Opponents|

* Russia
* Ba'athist Syria
* Georgia
* Azerbaijan
* Armenia
* Turkey

Battles and wars|

* Russo-Caucasian conflict
* Second Chechen War
* Syrian civil war[9]

Preceded by
Caucasian Front

Succeeded by
IS-CP

The Caucasus Emirate (Chechen: Имарат Кавказ, ИК, romanized: Imarat Kavkaz, IK; Russian: Кавказский эмират, romanized: Kavkazskiy emirat), also known as the Caucasian Emirate, Emirate of Caucasus, or Islamic Emirate of the Caucasus,[10] was a jihadist organisation active in rebel-held parts of Syria and previously in the North Caucasus region of Russia. Its intention was to expel the Russian presence from the North Caucasus and to establish an independent Islamic emirate in the region.[11] The Caucasus Emirate also referred to the state that the group sought to establish.[5][12][13] The creation of Caucasus Emirate was announced on 7 October 2007, by Chechen warlord Dokka Umarov, who became its first self-declared "emir".[14]

By late 2015, the group no longer had a visible presence in the North Caucasus, as most of its members defected to the local Islamic State affiliate, Vilayat Kavkaz.[15]

## History

[edit]

See also: History of Chechnya

### Background

[edit]

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Chechen nationalists, led by Dzhokhar Dudayev, declared the secession of Chechnya from Russia as an independent Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (ChRI). Following two devastating wars with the Russian Federation in the nineties, the ChRI fought an insurgency against the Russian forces and their Chechen allies from 2000, initially under the leadership of Aslan Maskhadov. Although the ChRI was largely founded by Sufi Muslims motivated by nationalism, over time the literalist Salafist form of Islam became increasingly popular with some Chechens, leading to a schism between nationalists and Salafists. As many of the original nationalist figures were killed by Russian forces, the insurgency took on an increasingly Salafist tone embodied by commanders like Shamil Basayev and the Arab fighter Khattab. Many of the surviving nationalists gave up the fight, and by the time Dokka Umarov was declared President of Ichkeria in June 2006, Islamists held increasing influence in the movement.[5]

### Declaration

[edit]

On 7 October 2007, President of Ichkeria Dokka Umarov abolished the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and its presidency and proclaimed an Emirate in the Caucasus, declaring himself its Emir.[14] The declaration of the Caucasus Emirate was quickly condemned by Akhmed Zakayev, Umarov's own minister of foreign affairs; Zakayev, who lives in exile in London, called upon all Chechen separatist fighters and politicians to pledge allegiance directly to his government in exile in an attempt to isolate Umarov from power.[16] Zakayev also expressed regret that Umarov had caved in to pressure from "provocateurs" and committed a "crime" that undermines the legitimacy of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.[17] Umarov said that he did not need any sanction from the Majlis-ul-Shura (the council of rebel field commanders) or anybody else to declare the Emirate, as it is "his duty as a Muslim" to establish an Islamic state "as required by Sharia".

### Leadership crisis

[edit]

On 1 August 2010 Kavkaz Center, the official web site of the Emirate, distributed a video where Dokka Umarov indicated that he had stepped down from his position as Emir and appointed Aslambek Vadalov to become his successor.[18] However, a few days later, on 3 August 2010,[19] Umarov said he had no intention of stepping down and called the video announcing his resignation a fabrication.[19][20][21] The announcements drove the emirate into a state of turmoil, with several key rebel leaders resigning their loyalty to Umarov.[22] This combined with the death of Muhannad is believed to have paved the way for Hussein Gakayev, Aslambek Vadalov and Tarkhan Gaziyev to re-affirm their allegiance to Umarov.[23] Umarov would die in September 2013 from food poisoning. Aliaskhab Kebekov was announced 6 months later as his successor.[1]

### Decline

[edit]

In the period from 2010 to 2014, the number of casualties in the North Caucasus insurgency declined each year, with the overall death toll falling by more than half.[24] Reasons suggested for the decline include the deaths of high-ranking insurgency commanders, the increased targeting by security forces of the support infrastructure relied on by the insurgents, and an exodus of insurgents to other conflict zones.[24]

Starting in November 2014, mid-level commanders of the Caucasus Emirate began publicly switching their allegiance from Emirate leader Aliaskhab Kebekov to the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, following al-Baghdadi and his group's declaration of a caliphate earlier in the year.[25] By February 2015, many commanders of the Emirate's Vilayat Nokhchicho and Vilayat Dagestan had defected.[25][26] Loyalists within the Emirate released statements denouncing them, and accused the most senior defector, Rustam Asildarov, of betrayal.[27][28] Vilayat Nokhchicho leader Aslan Byutukayev pledged allegiance to al-Baghdadi in June 2015,[29] and an audio statement was released in the same month purportedly pledging allegiance on behalf of militants in Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria.[30] On 23 June 2015, IS's spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani accepted these pledges and announced the creation of a Caucasus Province, a new branch operating in the North Caucasus region. Al-Adnani named Asildarov as its leader and called on other militants in the region to follow him.[31][32]

The Caucasus Emirate continued to operate independently,[33] but suffered further high-profile losses, including the killing by Russian security forces of Kebekov in April 2015,[34] and his successor Magomed Suleimanov several months later.[35][36] By late 2015, the militants still operating in Russia's North Caucasus Republics had largely unified under IS's Caucasus Province.[37] The Caucus Emirate continued to operate in Syria, fought in the October–December 2015 Aleppo offensive, and took part in the defense of rebel-held Greater Idlib against Syrian Army offensives in 2018[38] and 2019.[3]

The group seemingly disappeared after 2019, however rumors of resurgence of Caucasus Emirate were spread in 2023, though this claim has yet to be confirmed.

## Organizational structure

[edit]

### Overview

[edit]

Divisions of the Caucasus Emirate Divisions of the Caucasus Emirate (before 2009)

The Caucasus Emirate was claimed to be composed of the following Vilayats (provinces):

* Vilayat Nokhchicho (Chechnya) Self proclaimed capital city was Dzokhar-Ghala (Chechen: Джохар-ГӀала) (Grozny)
* Vilayat Galgayche (Ingushetia and North Ossetia) Self proclaimed capital city was Magas (Ingush: Магас), until 9 May 2009, and Buro (Ingush: Буро) (Vladikavkaz) from 9 May 2009
* Vilayat Cherkessia (Adygea and southern part of Krasnodar Krai) Self proclaimed capital city was Miequapa (Adyghe: Мыекъуапэ) (Maykop)
* Vilayat Nogai Steppe (Stavropol Krai and northern part of Krasnodar Krai) Self proclaimed capital city was Nogai-Shakhar (Nogai: Ногай-Шахар) (Stavropol)
* Vilayat Dagestan (Dagestan) Self proclaimed capital city was Shamilkala (Russian: Шамилькала) (Makhachkala)
* United Vilayat of Kabarda-Balkaria-Karachay (Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia) Self proclaimed capital cities were Nalshik (Kabardian: Налшык), Tirniawuz (Karachay-Balkar: Тырныаўуз), Qarachay shakhar(Karachay-Balkar: Къарачай шахар)
* Vilayat Iriston (North Ossetia) Self proclaimed capital city was Dzhikhadqæw (Ossetian: Джихадхъæу/Джихадгъæу) (Vladikavkaz) was abolished in 2009 in a decree issued by Umarov that subsumed it into Vilayat Galgayche[39]

In August 2008 Movladi Udugov, an ideologue and a spokesman for the Caucasus Emirate, said that "as Dokka Umarov very accurately observed, this Islamic state does not yet have any borders. It’s not correct to say that we want to build some sort of enclave on the territory of these North Caucasus republics. No, today many Muslims living in Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Russians from the most widely differing regions of Russia who have accepted Islam, swear an oath of allegiance to Dokka Umarov as the legitimate leader of the Muslims. And wherever he is – in Moscow, Blagoveshchensk, Tyumen – when a Muslim swears that oath, he becomes a fighting unit. Just because these people are not visible in their cities just now and are not active, that doesn’t mean that they won’t become active in the future."[40]

In a May 2011 interview posted on the pro Caucasus Emirate Kavkaz Center website, Umarov stated "Now we know that we should not secede, but must unite with our brothers in faith. We must recapture Astrakhan, Idel-Ural, Siberia and indigenous Muslim lands."[41]

### Leadership

[edit]

See also: Emir of the Caucasus Emirate

Professor Gordon M. Hahn of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, described the Caucasus Emirate to be a decentralized organisation, but structured hierarchically with Emir Dokku Umarov appointing the Emirs of each Vilayat or Province, who in turn swore him a bay'at or oath of allegiance. Each vilayat contained multiple Fronts or Sectors, which in turn contained multiple Jamaats or units. The vilayats, sectors and local jamaats independently raised funds, recruited members and carried out operations, while following the overall strategy as set by the Emirate's leadership.[42]

In May 2009, Umarov established a ruling consultative body, or Majlis al Shura, for the Caucasus Emirate consisting of his top commanders. At the time of the announcement, the positions and the individuals holding them were:[39]

* Supyan Abdullayev – Naib (Deputy) Emir – deceased 28 March 2011
* Akhmed Yevloyev – Military Emir and Emir of Vilayat Galgayche – arrested 9 June 2010
* Anzor Astemirov – Qadi and Emir of the United Vilayat of Kabarda-Balkaria-Karachay – deceased 24 March 2010
* Umalat Magomedov – Emir of Vilayat Dagestan – deceased 31 December 2009
* Aslambek Vadalov – Emir of the Eastern Sector of Vilayat Nokhchicho – arrested 5 November 2016
* Tarkhan Gaziyev – Emir of the South-Western sector of Vilayat Nokhchicho – arrested 5 November 2016
* Muhannad – Emir of the Ansar – deceased 21 April 2011

The Caucasus Emirate maintained a Supreme Sharia Court, which was headed by a Qadi. This position had been held by Anzor Astemirov (killed in March 2010), Magomed Vagabov (killed August 2010), and Aliaskhab Kebekov (killed in April 2015).[43]

In early 2009, Dokka Umarov announced the revival of the shahid suicide attackers unit Riyad-us Saliheen Brigade of Martyrs,[44] which has been led by Said Buryatsky (killed March 2010) and Aslan Byutukayev.

Umarov died due to food poisoning on 7 September 2013.[1][45] He was succeeded by Aliaskhab Kebekov (killed April 2015)[34][46] and Magomed Suleymanov (killed August 2015).[36]

### Funding

[edit]

Caucasus Emirate received significant funds from overseas Islamic terrorist organizations, but the primary source of funding for the Caucasus Emirate was a wide range of criminal activity. Militants extorted money from local businessmen and residents in their areas of operation under the premise of a religious tax. Russian media reports in early 2011 claimed that militants extorted a 20 per cent "jihad" tax from prominent figures considered to be pro-government. In addition to extortion, Russian officials have alleged that Caucasus Emirate militants also derived funds from involvement in drug trafficking and robbery.[47]

## External relations

[edit]

### Western countries

[edit]

In the same October 2007 statement in which Umarov proclaimed the Caucasian Emirate, he also described the United States, Great Britain and Israel as common enemies of Muslims worldwide.[48] However, on November 20, 2007, Anzor Astemirov, then head of the Vilayat KBK, said that "Even if we wanted to threaten America and Europe every day, it is clear for anybody who understands politics that we do not have any real clashes of interests [with the West]. The people in the White House know very well that we have nothing to do with America at the moment." In his statement, Astemirov not only described the Caucasian rebels' threats against the West as empty, but also even asked the United States for assistance in their fight against "Russian aggression".[49] Following its criticism, many rebel websites removed the phrase that regarded Western countries as enemies.[50]

### Reaction to the 2008 Russo-Georgian War

[edit]

Main article: Russo-Georgian War

On August 9, 2008, in response to the conflict between Georgia and Russia, Movladi Udugov stated that "for the time being neither Tbilisi nor Washington has appealed to us with any requests or offers" to fight alongside Georgian forces against the Russian forces. Udugov also noted: "But I clearly can say that the command of the Caucasus Emirate is following with great interest the development of the situation."

### Syrian Civil War

[edit]

A number of Chechen and other North Caucasian volunteers travelled to fight in the Syrian Civil War against the government of Bashar al-Assad. Dokku Umarov released a video in November 2012 expressing support for all those trying to install Sharia law in Syria, but rebuked those who had weakened the Jihad in the North Caucasus by leaving to fight there.[51] However, as the war went on and North Caucasians took an increasingly prominent role in the fighting owing to their combat experience, those who went to fight in Syria were viewed increasingly positively by the Emirate's websites and supporters.

In 2013, a Chechen known as Salahuddin Shishani was appointed as the official representative of the Caucasus Emirate in Syria.[51] In December 2013, the Chechen-led Syrian jihadist group Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar (JMA) split away from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and appointed Salahuddin as their new commander, emphasising that they wished to continue respecting the Oath of Allegiance they had made to the Caucasus Emirate's Dokku Umarov.[52] Following his appointment as the Emirates new leader, Aliaskhab Kebekov advised the North Caucasians in Syria to remain independent rather than align with other groups. He also voiced support for Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front and criticised Abu Omar al-Shishani, the Chechen commander who formerly led JMA before joining ISIL.[53] In mid 2015, JMA suffered a leadership split, and Salahuddin and those fighters loyal to him formed a smaller offshoot that reiterated their loyalty to the Caucasus Emirate.[54]

## Designation as a terrorist organization

[edit]

Country  | Date  | References

|
|

Russia  | 8 February 2010  | [55]
United States  | 26 May 2011  | [56]
United Nations  | 29 July 2011  | [57]
United Kingdom  | December 2013  | [58]
Canada  | 24 December 2013  | [59]
United Arab Emirates  | 15 November 2014  | [60]
Bahrain  |  | [61]
Austria  | 7 July 2021  | [62]

## Claimed and alleged attacks

[edit]

* The Caucasus Emirate claimed responsibility for the 2009 Nevsky Express bombing in an online statement describing it as an "act of sabotage", and part of a series of operations targeting strategic sites in Russia.[63]
* The 2010 Moscow Metro bombings which left 40 people dead, and over 100 injured were ordered by Doku Umarov.[64]
* In December 2010, Austrian police arrested a Chechen refugee on suspicion of planning an attack on NATO targets. "Belgian authorities suspect a group of Chechen extremists, who were seeking to set up a religious state in northern Chechnya, planned to attack NATO facilities in Belgium," Interior Ministry spokesman Rudolf Gollia said.[65]
* The Caucasus Emirate claimed responsibility for the Domodedovo International Airport bombing, which killed at least 36 people.[66]
* The group was the prime suspect in the 2012 Makhachkala attack that occurred on 3 May 2012 and killed at least 13 people.[67]
* After it was revealed that the perpetrators in the Boston Marathon bombing were ethnic Chechens, Vilayat Dagestan denied any link to the bombing or the Tsarnaev brothers and stated that it was at war with Russia, not the United States. It also said that it had sworn off violence against civilians since 2012.[68][69] The statement said, "The Command of the Province of Dagestan indicates in this regard that the Caucasian Mujahideen are not fighting against the United States of America. We are at war with Russia, which is not only responsible for the occupation of the Caucasus, but also for heinous crimes against Muslims. Also, remember that even in respect to the enemy state of Russia, which is fighting the Caucasus Emirate, there is an order by the Emir Dokku Umarov, which prohibits strikes on civilian targets.[70] In July 2013, Doku Umarov released a video message rescinding his prior directions not to attack civilians, declaring that the Russians had construed the declaration as a sign of weakness and had stepped up attacks in the North Caucasus.[71]
* The October 2013 Volgograd bus bombing was blamed on the group.[72]
* The Emirate's Vilayat Dagestan claimed responsibility for the December 2013 Volgograd bombings. The suicide bombings killed 34 people.[73]
* The Caucasus Emirate took credit for a 5 October 2014 suicide bombing near the Grozny city hall. Five Russian police officers and the suicide bomber were killed, 12 other people were wounded.[74]
* Clashes on 4 December 2014 between police and members of the Caucasus Emirate in Grozny left dozens dead.[75]

## See also

[edit]

* Emir of the Caucasus Emirate
* Caucasian Imamate
* Islamic State – Caucasus Province
* North Caucasian Emirate

## Notes

[edit]

## References

[edit]

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* "Евкуров: терроризм в Ингушетии побежден". Archived from the original on 2017-04-08. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
* "МВД объявило об отсутствии боевиков в Кабардино-Балкарии". Archived from the original on 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
* Joanna Paraszczuk (12 May 2017). "Imarat Kavkaz in Syria splits more after Abdul Aziz KBK ouster". From Chechnya to Syria. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
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4. ^ Al-Rasheed, Madawi; Kersten, Carool; Shterin, Marat (2012). Demystifying the Caliphate: Historical Memory and Contemporary Contexts. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 255\. ISBN 978-0-19-932795-9.
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## Further reading

[edit]

* Hahn, Gordon H. Getting the Caucasus Emirate Right Archived 2013-06-26 at the Wayback Machine, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, 1 September 2011
* "The North Caucasus: The Challenges of Integration (II), Islam, the Insurgency and Counter-Insurgency", International Crisis Group, October 2012.
* Rhodes, Darion. Salafist-Takfiri Jihadism: the Ideology of the Caucasus Emirate Archived 2014-09-03 at the Wayback Machine, International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, March 2014
* Schaefer, Robert W. (2011), The Insurgency in Chechnya and the North Caucasus: From Gazavat to Jihad, Praeger Security International, ISBN 0-31338-634-X

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Caucasus Emirate at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Chechen–Russian conflict

* First Chechen War (1994–1996)
* War in Dagestan (1999)
* Second Chechen War (1999–2009)
* Insurgency in Ingushetia (2007–2015)
* Insurgency in the North Caucasus (2009–2017)

First Chechen War|

* Battle of Dolinskoye
* Battle of Khankala
* Battle of Grozny (1994–1995)
* 1995 Shali cluster bomb attack
* Samashki massacre
* Shatoy ambush
* Battle of Grozny (August 1996)
* Khasavyurt Accord
* Russia–Chechnya Peace Treaty

Second Chechen War|

* 1999 Russian bombing of Chechnya
* Battle of Grozny (1999–2000)
* Battle for Height 776
* Battle of Komsomolskoye
* 2000 Zhani-Vedeno ambush
* 2002 Khankala Mi-26 crash
* 2004 Nazran raid
* 2004 raid on Grozny
* 2005 raid on Nalchik
* Counter-insurgency operations
* Guerrilla phase
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008

Major attacks|

* 1995 Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis
* 1996 Black Sea hostage crisis
* MV Avrasya hijacking
* 1996 Kizlyar hostage crisis
* 1999 Vladikavkaz bombing
* 1999 Russian apartment bombings
* 1999 Tukhchar massacre
* 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis
* 2002 Grozny truck bombing
* 2003 Mozdok bombing
* 2003 Tushino bombing
* 2004 Moscow Metro bombing
* 2004 Russian aircraft bombings
* 2004 Beslan school siege
* 2008 Vladikavkaz bombing
* 2009 Nevsky Express bombing
* 2010 Moscow Metro bombings
* Domodedovo International Airport bombing
* 2012 Makhachkala attack
* 2014 Grozny bombing
* 2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing
* Crocus City Hall attack
* 2024 Dagestan attacks

Related topics|

* Chechen Revolution
* Battle of Grozny (November 1994)
* Censorship of Chechnya coverage
* Crimes and terrorism
* Mass graves
* Suicide attacks
* Assassinations
* Casualties
* Aircraft losses
* International response
* First Chechen War
* Second Chechen War
* Politics of Chechnya
* Chechenpress
* Kavkaz Center
* Chechen genocide

Wars in culture|

* List of films
* Polina Zherebtsova's Journal
* War
* The 3 Rooms of Melancholia
* The Pathologies
* Alexandra
* Angel of Grozny
* Ant in a Glass Jar
* The Search

Federalists|

| Combatants|

* Russian Federation
* Armed Forces
* Ground Forces
* Ministry of Internal Affairs
* OMON
* ODON
* Internal Troops
* Federal Security Service
* Main Intelligence Directorate
* Special Forces (Spetsnaz)
* Republic of Chechnya
* Kadyrovites

|

Leaders|

* Russian Federation
* Boris Yeltsin
* Dmitry Medvedev
* Vladimir Putin
* Alexander Lebed
* Pavel Grachev
* Gennady Troshev
* Chechnya
* † Akhmad Kadyrov
* Alu Alkhanov
* Ramzan Kadyrov
* † Dzhabrail Yamadayev
* † Ruslan Yamadayev
* † Sulim Yamadayev

Separatists|

| Combatants|

* Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
* Caucasian Front
* Vilayat Dagestan
* Vilayat Galgayche
* Vilayat Nokhchicho
* United Vilayat of Kabarda, Balkaria and Karachay
* Vilayat Cherkessia
* Vilayat Iriston
* Islamic Djamaat of Dagestan
* Liberation Army of Dagestan
* Alperen Hearths
* Grey Wolves

|

Leaders|

* † Dzhokhar Dudayev
* † Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev
* † Aslan Maskhadov
* † Abdul-Halim Sadulayev
* † Ruslan Gelayev
* † Shamil Basayev
* † Arbi Barayev
* † Salman Raduyev
* Akhmed Zakayev
* † Turpal-Ali Atgeriyev
* † Vakha Arsanov
* Ilyas Akhmadov
* † Movsar Barayev
* † Muslim Atayev
* † Rasul Makasharipov
* † Ilyas Gorchkhanov
* † Rappani Khalilov

Mujahideen|

| Combatants|

* Caucasus Emirate
* Mujahideen
* Islamic International Brigade
* Riyad-us Saliheen
* Islamic State – Caucasus Province

|

Leaders|

* † Magomed Suleimanov
* † Aliaskhab Kebekov
* † Dokka Umarov
* Aslambek Vadalov
* (POW) Ali Taziev
* † Anzor Astemirov
* † Supyan Abdullayev
* † Aslan Byutukayev
* Movladi Udugov
* † Khuseyn Gakayev
* (POW) Tarkhan Gaziyev
* † Said Buryatsky
* † Magomed Vagabov
* † Rustam Asildarov
* † Asker Dzhappuyev
* † Arthur Getagazhev
* † Ibn al-Khattab
* † Abu al-Walid
* † Abu Hafs al-Urduni
* † Muhannad
* † Abdulla Kurd
* † Zalim Shebzukhov

Bibliographies|

* Bibliography of Russian history (1991–present)
* Bibliography of the history of the Caucasus

* v
* t
* e

Leaders of Chechnya (1991–present)

Chechen Republic
(since 1993)|

* Salambek Khadzhiyev
* Doku Zavgayev
* Akhmad Kadyrov
* Sergey Abramov
* Alu Alkhanov
* Ramzan Kadyrov

Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
(1991–2007)|

* Dzhokhar Dudayev
* Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev
* Aslan Maskhadov
* Abdul-Halim Sadulayev
* Dokka Umarov
* Akhmed Zakayev

Acting officeholders shown in italics.
*[transl.]: translation
*[est.]: estimation
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[POW]: Prisoner of war