Shirvani Basayev: biography of brother Shamil Basayev

Shirvani Basayev is one of the most famous field commanders of Chechen fighters. Together with his brother he took an active part in military operations against the troops of the Russian Federation. Has gained popularity as a result of brutal raids on the territory of Dagestan and the fighting in the territory of the Chechen Republic. Basayev's family was respected by Islamist militants. Almost all of its members took part in the war.

Shirvani Basayev: biography

He was born in the Vedeno district in the early sixties. Data on the exact date of birth is very contradictory. In general, most of Shirvani's biography is covered in darkness. He graduated from high school and worked in the Vedeno district. Father and mother were from different Chechen teips. They adhered to Islamic traditions and were supporters of primordial nationalism. In addition to Shirvani, the Basayevs had two more children - Zinaida and Islam.

Presumably, in the eighties Shirvani moved with his brother to Moscow. There they are engaged in various sub-jobs. In particular, they worked in the business sphere. In the nineties, the first participation in the political life of the country. The Soviet state ceased to exist, separatist sentiments began to rise in Chechnya. The future president of Russia Boris Yeltsin enjoyed popularity with such radicals. He promised "as much independence as you can get." That is why during the attempt of the State Emergency Committee to preserve the country the Basayevs came out in support of the new government.

Preparing for war

Shirvani Basayev returned to Chechnya, where a new government was already being formed at that time. The first armed detachments were created in the ninety-first year. They were trained by the former officers of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union, Chechens by descent. The Basayevs immediately joined these formations and took an active part. In an interview, Shamil states that he and his brother studied military science in Russian textbooks.

The First War

But they received the first combat experience in Nagorno-Karabakh. By the ninety-first year, relations between Azerbaijanis and Armenians had reached a peak of their instability. Ethnically inhabited by Armenians, Karabakh declared its independence. In response, the authorities of Azerbaijan unleashed a war. In view of the fierce resistance of the Karabakh population, the government appealed for support to Islamist organizations. Chechen militants arrived in Azerbaijan under the leadership of Basayev.

Shirvani Basayev became known also for his participation in the Abkhaz war. In this conflict, the Chechens fought against the Georgian army. Shamil Salmanovich Basayev was introduced to several Abkhazian awards. According to various sources, at this time he was overseen by the General Intelligence Directorate of Russia. Many Chechen militants told that Shamil was trained in the territory of Russia before being sent to Ossetia.

The First Chechen

When, after several years of de facto independence of Chechnya, the Russian leadership announced the beginning of a counter-terrorist operation, the Basayev family actively joined the war. Shirvani Basayev received a post in the so-called "army of the Chechen Republic." He became the commandant of the village of Bamut. It is located in the Achkhoy-Martan district. In advance, the militants began to prepare the defense of the settlement. All the surrounding mountains have been thoroughly studied. In the forests there were ambush detachments. All approaches to Bamut were thoroughly mined. The defense line also included concrete blocks that reliably sheltered the militants from shelling. The battle for Bamut was widely covered in the media. Federal troops several times stormed the settlement in the ninety-fifth, but they could not seize it. The Chechens quickly moved and ambushed the advancing colonies. As a result, the settlement still managed to be taken, but only by the spring of the following year and after seventeen seizures. The brother of Shamil Basaev distinguished himself in these battles as a skilled commander.

The Battle for Grozny

During the second Chechen war Basayev Shirvani Salmanovich took an active part in the defense of the capital of Ichkeria - Grozny. In winter ninety-ninth, the Federal troops launched an offensive against Gudermes. After the negotiations the city passed under the jurisdiction of Russia. The siege of Grozny began. Several armies surrounded the settlement, leaving only a humanitarian corridor for the release of civilians.

At this time Chechen rebels actively strengthened the city's districts. Many areas were mined. Prepared ambushes. An active production of grenade launchers and anti-aircraft installations was set up. Which, however, had a low productivity due to mismanagement. Also used such means as grenades on small parachutes.

Federal troops regularly fired militants with artillery and aviation. By February the city was taken. The leader of the militants Shamil Salmanovich Basayev fled Grozny with his brother.

The End of the Basayevs

In December 2000, it was announced about the possible death of Shirvani Basayev. However, later many authoritative sources denied this information. The fate of the elder brother is still unknown. According to some reports, he moved to Turkey. From there, after the treatment, to another Islamic country. The more famous brother - Shamil Basayev, was destroyed on July 10, two thousand and six. Dozens of bloody terrorist acts remained on his account.