Dagestan-1999,Dagestan-1999,August - August -

SeptemberSeptemberMikhail NokhovMikhail Nokhov

Gymnasium # 1Gymnasium # 1

KhasavyurtKhasavyurt

The Invasion of Dagestan,The Invasion of Dagestan, also known as the War in also known as the War in Dagestan and Dagestan Dagestan and Dagestan War, began when the War, began when the Chechnya-based Islamic Chechnya-based Islamic International Peacekeeping International Peacekeeping Brigade (IIPB) Islamist Brigade (IIPB) Islamist militia led by warlords militia led by warlords Shamil Basayev and Ibn al-Shamil Basayev and Ibn al-Khattab invaded the Khattab invaded the neighbouring Russian neighbouring Russian republic of Dagestan, on republic of Dagestan, on August 7, 1999, in support August 7, 1999, in support of the Islamic Shura of of the Islamic Shura of Dagestan separatist rebels. Dagestan separatist rebels.

In late 1997, Bagauddin Magomedov, the ethnic Avar leader In late 1997, Bagauddin Magomedov, the ethnic Avar leader of the radical wing of the Dagestani Wahhabis (Salafism), of the radical wing of the Dagestani Wahhabis (Salafism), fled with his entourage to the de-facto independent Chechen fled with his entourage to the de-facto independent Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. There he had established close ties Republic of Ichkeria. There he had established close ties with Arab-born Amir Khattab and leaders of Chechnya's with Arab-born Amir Khattab and leaders of Chechnya's Wahhabi community during the war. In early 1998, Wahhabi community during the war. In early 1998, Magomedov initiated the relocation of several hundred Magomedov initiated the relocation of several hundred Dagestani Wahhabis and their families, who were the Dagestani Wahhabis and their families, who were the targets of repression in their native land, to Gudermes in targets of repression in their native land, to Gudermes in eastern Chechnya. In March 1998, these Dagestanis, eastern Chechnya. In March 1998, these Dagestanis, together with their Chechen co-religionists, started to drift together with their Chechen co-religionists, started to drift toward Urus-Martan, where they then began preparations to toward Urus-Martan, where they then began preparations to invade Dagestan. Another notable Dagestani Wahhabi, invade Dagestan. Another notable Dagestani Wahhabi, Magomed Tagayev, formed the "Dagestani Imam's Army of Magomed Tagayev, formed the "Dagestani Imam's Army of Freedom Fighters."Freedom Fighters."

The years 1998 and 1999 saw the institutional The years 1998 and 1999 saw the institutional unification of Dagestani and Chechen radicals. unification of Dagestani and Chechen radicals. The formation of the Congress of the Peoples of The formation of the Congress of the Peoples of Chechnya and Dagestan (CPCD), headed by Chechnya and Dagestan (CPCD), headed by Shamil Basayev, publicized the expansive Shamil Basayev, publicized the expansive intentions of the Chechen and Dagestani intentions of the Chechen and Dagestani Wahhabis and their partners. In November 1998, Wahhabis and their partners. In November 1998, Basayev left no doubt as to the Congress' Basayev left no doubt as to the Congress' program: "The leaders of the Congress will not program: "The leaders of the Congress will not allow the occupying Russian army to wreak any allow the occupying Russian army to wreak any havoc in the land of our Muslim brethren. We do havoc in the land of our Muslim brethren. We do not intend to leave our Muslim brothers helpless." not intend to leave our Muslim brothers helpless." In January 1999, Khattab began the formation of In January 1999, Khattab began the formation of an "Islamic Legion" with foreign Muslim volunteers. an "Islamic Legion" with foreign Muslim volunteers. At the same time, he commanded the At the same time, he commanded the "Peacemaking Unit of the Majlis (Parliament) of "Peacemaking Unit of the Majlis (Parliament) of Ichkeria and Dagestan".Ichkeria and Dagestan".

In April 1999, Magomedov, "the Emir of the Islamic In April 1999, Magomedov, "the Emir of the Islamic Jamaat of Dagestan," made an appeal to the Jamaat of Dagestan," made an appeal to the "Islamic patriots of the Caucasus" to "take part in "Islamic patriots of the Caucasus" to "take part in the jihad" and to do their share in "liberating the jihad" and to do their share in "liberating Dagestan and the Caucasus from the Russian Dagestan and the Caucasus from the Russian colonial yoke." According to this prominent colonial yoke." According to this prominent Dagestani Wahhabi's vision, proponents of the idea Dagestani Wahhabi's vision, proponents of the idea of a free Islamic Dagestan were to enlist in the of a free Islamic Dagestan were to enlist in the "Islamic Army of the Caucasus" that he had "Islamic Army of the Caucasus" that he had founded and report to the army's headquarters (in founded and report to the army's headquarters (in the village of Karamakhi) for military duty. Chechen the village of Karamakhi) for military duty. Chechen separatist government official Turpal-Ali Atgeriev separatist government official Turpal-Ali Atgeriev claimed since that he had already alerted then claimed since that he had already alerted then Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) Director Vladimir Putin, in the summer of (FSB) Director Vladimir Putin, in the summer of 1999, of the imminent incursion into Dagestan.1999, of the imminent incursion into Dagestan.

Shamil Basayev

Khatab

On August 4, 1999, several On August 4, 1999, several Russian Ministry of Internal Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) troops were Affairs (MVD) troops were killed in a border clash with killed in a border clash with a group of Magomedov's a group of Magomedov's fighters led by Bagaudin fighters led by Bagaudin Kebedov. Three days later, Kebedov. Three days later, Basayev and Khattab led Basayev and Khattab led an incursions of roughly an incursions of roughly 1,500 armed Dagestanis 1,500 armed Dagestanis (mainly Avars and Dargins) (mainly Avars and Dargins) and others (mostly and others (mostly Chechens and Arabs) into Chechens and Arabs) into the mountainous regions the mountainous regions Dagestan, seizing the Dagestan, seizing the villages of Ansalta, Rakhata villages of Ansalta, Rakhata and Shadroda and reaching and Shadroda and reaching the village of Tando, close the village of Tando, close to the district village of to the district village of Botlikh. Botlikh.

Three days later, on Three days later, on August 10, they August 10, they announced the birth announced the birth of the "independent of the "independent Islamic State of Islamic State of Dagestan" and Dagestan" and declared war on "the declared war on "the traitorous Dagestani traitorous Dagestani government" and government" and "Russia's occupation "Russia's occupation unitsunits

As resistance to the As resistance to the invaders stiffened, not least invaders stiffened, not least from a large if undisciplined from a large if undisciplined volunteer militia, Russian volunteer militia, Russian artillery and airpower came artillery and airpower came into its own. While the First into its own. While the First Chechen War had shown Chechen War had shown the limitations of its use, the limitations of its use, here it was relied on to here it was relied on to ensure that the Russians ensure that the Russians did not lose the war in did not lose the war in those early days. The those early days. The rebels were stalled by the rebels were stalled by the ferocity of the ferocity of the bombardments: their supply bombardments: their supply lines were cut and lines were cut and scattered with remotely scattered with remotely delivered mines.delivered mines.

This gave Federal This gave Federal Troops time to assemble Troops time to assemble a counter-attack under a counter-attack under Colonel-General Viktor Colonel-General Viktor Kazantsev, commander Kazantsev, commander of the North Caucasus of the North Caucasus Military District. In a thinly Military District. In a thinly disguised admission of disguised admission of failure, on August 23 the failure, on August 23 the rebels announced they rebels announced they were withdrawing from were withdrawing from Botlikh district 'to Botlikh district 'to redeploy' and begin a redeploy' and begin a 'new phase' in their 'new phase' in their operations operations

General Troshev

On August 27, Putin, then the new Prime Minister of On August 27, Putin, then the new Prime Minister of Russia (since August 9, the third of the fighting), flew Russia (since August 9, the third of the fighting), flew to Dagestan and ordered a punitive attack against to Dagestan and ordered a punitive attack against the Dagestani Wahhabi villages of the Kadar zone. the Dagestani Wahhabi villages of the Kadar zone.

On the night of September 4, as the federal forces were On the night of September 4, as the federal forces were struggling to wipe out the last bastions of resistance in struggling to wipe out the last bastions of resistance in the Kadar villages, a car bomb destroyed a military the Kadar villages, a car bomb destroyed a military housing building in the Dagestani town of Buynaksk, housing building in the Dagestani town of Buynaksk, killing 64 people and starting the first in the wave of the killing 64 people and starting the first in the wave of the Russian apartment bombings. Russian apartment bombings.

That same morning That same morning Chechnya-based rebels Chechnya-based rebels launched a renewed launched a renewed incursion into the lowland incursion into the lowland Novolak region of Novolak region of Dagestan, coming within Dagestan, coming within a mere five kilometers of a mere five kilometers of the major city of the major city of Khasavyurt and Khasavyurt and threatening the republic's threatening the republic's capital Makhachkala. capital Makhachkala. Federal forces supported Federal forces supported by local volunteers finally by local volunteers finally forced them back after forced them back after more heavy fighting. more heavy fighting.

By mid-September 1999 By mid-September 1999 the militants were routed the militants were routed from the villages they had from the villages they had seized and were pushed seized and were pushed back into Chechnya. back into Chechnya. Meanwhile, the Russian Meanwhile, the Russian Air Force had already Air Force had already begun bombing targets begun bombing targets inside Chechnya. At least inside Chechnya. At least several hundred people several hundred people were killed in the fighting, were killed in the fighting, including an unknown including an unknown number of civilians. The number of civilians. The federal side admitted federal side admitted suffering 279 dead and suffering 279 dead and approximately 987 approximately 987 wounded.wounded.

Defenders of Khasavyurt

The main lesson the people of Dagestan The main lesson the people of Dagestan learnt from the events of 1999 is that when learnt from the events of 1999 is that when they are united not a single hostile force they are united not a single hostile force can conquer them. This was vividly seen can conquer them. This was vividly seen in Khasavyurt where all the people in Khasavyurt where all the people irrespective their religion or nationality got irrespective their religion or nationality got united and formed people’s territory united and formed people’s territory guards with Mayor Saigit Pasha guards with Mayor Saigit Pasha Umakhanov at the head. Umakhanov at the head.