Чеченская Республика Ичкерия
Brief description
The Government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (ChRI) is a dissident Chechen organisation. It claims to be the heir to the separatist movement that fought two wars with Russia.
Formally, the ChRI was abolished by the proclamation of the Caucasus Emirate in October 2007. However, the non-jihadist faction of the insurgency rejected the legitimacy of that decision, as well as the regime of Ramzan Kadyrov, and proclaimed itself the legitimate authority in Chechnya. Since Akhmed Zakayev is the long-serving “prime minister” of the government and he is based in the United Kingdom, that country is the de facto base for its operations.
Zakayev has attempted to remain active and relevant. Arguably, however, the ChRI was moribund as an organisation, with little evident presence and no armed groups under its control in Chechnya itself. As an organisation, it has been significantly revitalised by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the participation of armed Chechen groups accepting its authority there.
Leadership
- Akhmed Zakayev (2007-date)
