The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria organization has been designated as terrorist.
A court in Grozny has designated the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and its branches in 14 countries as terrorist organizations. The organization's activities are banned in Russia.
As reported by the Caucasian Knot, in June 2024, the court received the case of Chechen natives Akhmed Zakayev and Murad Yusupov, accused of organizing and leading the terrorist organization "Separate Special Purpose Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (the organization is designated as terrorist, its activities are banned in Russia)" (OBON), which is banned in Russia. Both were placed on the international wanted list. In January 2025, Zakayev and Yusupov were sentenced in absentia to 20 and 19 years in prison, respectively.
Akhmed Zakayev – Aslan Maskhadov's special representative in the West (2001), Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (2007-2009). He is wanted internationally on terrorism charges and has been granted political asylum in the UK.
Based on materials collected by the FSB and the Prosecutor General's Office, the Sheikh-Mansurovsky District Court of Grozny has ruled to designate the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (CRI) and its 29 branches in 14 European countries as terrorist organizations and to ban them in Russia, the FSB reported today on its website.
"This organization was created in 1991 in the Chechen Republic. Since November 2007, it has been headed by A. Zakayev, who is wanted internationally for terrorist crimes and is hiding in the UK," the publication states.
Since the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, members of the CRI "have been participating in combat operations against the Russian Armed Forces as part of Ukrainian armed formations," the report notes.
"All "Individuals involved in the activities of this terrorist organization and those assisting it will be identified and prosecuted in accordance with Russian law, which carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment," the department stated.
Chechens fighting on the side of Ukraine against Russia call themselves Ichkerians. Several Ichkerian units are participating in military operations in Ukraine and conducting armed raids into Russian territory, according to the Caucasian Knot report "Ichkerian Detachments in Ukraine."
As a reminder, in October 2022, a criminal case was opened against 40-year-old Chechen resident Khusein Dzhambetov for participating in the creation of a terrorist organization. According to security officials, he participated in the creation of the banned terrorist organization "Separate Special Purpose Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (the organization is designated as terrorist, its activities are banned in Russia)." In May 2023, Khusein Dzhambetov announced that he had returned to Chechnya and issued threats against those who "present the situation in the republic as anything other than what it actually is." Dzhambetov returned to Chechnya, realizing his mistakes, Ramzan Kadyrov stated after meeting with Dzhambetov.
Dzhambetov's defection to Ramzan Kadyrov sparked widespread discussion, but it did not affect the activities of the Ichkerians, supporters of the self-proclaimed Ichkeria stated.
Akhmed Zakayev, in turn, has repeatedly reported pressure being exerted on his relatives in Chechnya. Thus, the politician's brother, Ali Zakayev, who lives in Urus-Martan, was forced to record video messages criticizing him in 2021 and 2022, while other relatives of Akhmed Zakayev were detained. In May 2023, Zakayev's associates reported that security forces in Chechnya had taken two of his nephews, Bislan and Khusein, from their home. According to Zakayev's associate, Shamil Albakov, Bislan Zakayev later returned home, but Khusein Zakayev continued to be held by security forces.
Two Chechen volunteer battalions fought on the Ukrainian side in 2014-2015; by 2019, they had disarmed. The presence of Chechens fighting on the side of Ukraine has been repeatedly confirmed by Ramzan Kadyrov, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Chechens in Ukraine: Facts and Speculation".