Emir of Dagestan’s Sharia Jamaat Reportedly Killed in Russian Special Operation

Russia’s intelligence services reported on the night of April 18 that they had identified the body of Israpil Validzhanov, who was better known as Emir Hassan, the head of Dagestan’s Sharia Jamaat armed resistance movement, among four militants killed near the village of Tashkapur in the republic’s Levashinsky district. The area is near Dagestan’s Gunibsky district, where the local jamaat is led by Emir Rappani (www.rosbalt.ru/kavkaz/2011/04/18/840300.html). Emir Hassan became the militant leader in September 2010 following the killing of his predecessor, Magomedali Vagabov, in August of that year (www.rosbalt.ru/kavkaz/2011/04/18/840300.html).

Emir Hassan is already the sixth head of the Dagestan jamaat liquidated by the Russians since 2007. The average lifespan of a leader of the Sharia Jamaat is no more than a few months. It shows both the active character of the rebel leaders ...

Eight Policemen Killed in Rebel Attacks in Dagestan

Insurgency-related violence was reported across the North Caucasus this past week. On April 14, three suspected militants were detained in Kabardino-Balkaria after police stopped a car in which four people were traveling along the Kavkaz federal highway between the villages of Chegem and Shalushka. The three detained men, inhabitants of Kabardino-Balkaria’s Baksan district, were on the federal wanted list for alleged involvement in attacks on law-enforcement personnel as well as terrorist activities. Police said that an improvised explosive made from sticks of dynamite was found in the car along with ammunition. Also on April 14, a suspected militant was killed in the city of Baksan after he allegedly opened fire on police. The incident took place in a dacha area on the outskirts of the city and police said the slain man, a ...

Rural museum robbed in Dagestan

 

37 valuable exhibits have been stolen from the local lore museum located in the Dagestani village of Gunib.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed at the Dagestani MIA that the theft was committed at night on April 10. The criminals cut down the lock and broke the door of the museum.

Currently, operative agents and a special commission try to find out what particular exhibits were stolen. Director of the museum Patimat Aliskandieva was out of contact.

According to villagers, the museum kept personal belongings of Imam Shamil, the great Russian surgeon Pirogov, who used to visit Dagestan, and ancient utensils and antiques. The museum was equipped with an alarm signalling system, which failed for unknown reasons.

The village of Gunib often called "an open-air museum." Apart from the above museum, the village houses three memorial complexes devoted to various historical events: "Vatan", "Salanib" and "Andalal".

See earlier reports: "An exhibition ...

Dagestan: detected and destroyed

Dagestan: 17 invaders and minions eliminated, wounded in one day of fightings