Shamil Basayev

Shamil Salmanovich Basayev (Russian: ?????? ?????????? ??????) (born January 14, 1965) is a Chechen leading an armed group acting in the north Caucasus region of Russia, principally in Chechnya. Although some call him a "separatist" for his goal of achieving independence from Russia, many call him a "terrorist" for his intentional killing of unarmed civilians, including women and children. Since 2003, Basayev has also used the pseudonym and title Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris, "Amir of the Brigade of Shahids 'Riyadus Salihiin'".

Early life

He was born in the town of Vedeno in south-eastern Chechnya. His family is said to have had a long history of involvement in Chechen resistance to Russian rule, and suffered reprisals in the process. His grandfather fought for the abortive attempt to create a breakaway North Caucasus Emirate after the Russian Revolution. Other family members were killed during the Second World War. Along with the rest of the Chechen population, the Basayevs were deported to Kazakhstan on the orders of Joseph Stalin as collective punishment for alleged collaboration with Nazi Germany; they were not allowed to return until 1957.

Related Topics:
Vedeno - Russia - North Caucasus Emirate - Russian Revolution - Second World War - Kazakhstan - Joseph Stalin - Nazi Germany - 1957

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Basayev graduated from school in Vedeno in 1982 and spent the next two years in the Soviet military serving as a firefighter. For the next four years, he worked at the Aksaiisky state farm in the Volgograd region of southern Russia before moving to Moscow. He attempted to enroll at the law faculty of the Moscow State University but failed, and instead entered the Moscow Engineering Institute of land management in 1987. However, he was expelled for poor grades in 1988. He subsequently worked as a computer salesman in Moscow, in partnership with a Chechen businessman named Supyan Taramov. Ironically, the two men ended up on opposite sides in the Chechen wars, during which Taramov sponsored a pro-Russian Chechen militia.

Related Topics:
1982 - Firefighter - Volgograd - Moscow - Moscow State University - 1987 - 1988 - Computer - Supyan Taramov

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~