CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 72

CONTEMPORARY EURASIA
Seif-Islam and started his training there. He pledged his loyalty to Shamil
Basayev, a well-known Islamic leader in Chechnya. On October 2004, he
met Alikhan Saduev and the ‘president of Ichkeria’ Abdul Khalim Sadu-
layev, from whom he received approval for starting a jihad in Tatarstan.
Moreover, the Chechen radical leaders provided Galiev with weapons,
money and religious literature. 43 Galiev regularly visited Chechnya, his
formally created jamaat became a part of the terrorist organization “Su-
preme Military Majlisul Shura of the United Mujahideen of the Cauca-
sus” under the command of Basayev. Jamaat consisted of 7 members, two
of which were from Chechnya. 44
The terrorist organization was active during the 2004-2005 period.
Within six months the members of the organization carried out seven ex-
plosions and fi ve attempts to blow up electric power lines, gas pipelines
not only in the territory of Tatarstan but also in other subjects of Vol-
ga-Urals region. First, Galiev and his supporters organized terror attacks
in the neighboring region of Tatarstan. Attacks in Tatarstan started in July
2005. Terrorists exploded a power line in Tyulyachinsky district and a
pipeline in Laishevsky district. After those events four members of jamaat
were arrested. According to the investigation, extremists were involved
in preparing another terror attack for the 1000th anniversary of Kazan. 45
In December 2014 other two members of the jamaat were captured. The
arrested terrorists in 2007 was imprisoned.
Galiev was reported missing. He became the most wanted terrorist of
Tatarstan 46 , and he went into hiding for 10 years. Only on May 12, 2015,
Galiev was captured in the village Bolshaya Elga. The criminal case of
Albert Galiev had been investigated for 2 months. Galiev was accused of
11 terror attacks and sentenced to 22 years in prison. Galiev told in the
court that his actions were ordered by Shamil Basayev.
The death of Shamil Basayev in 2006 and the arrest of 4 members
signifi cantly reduced the intensity of activities of the jamaat. Galiev was
43
44
45
46
Irina Plotnikova, “«Vtoroj poshel»: v Kazani osuzhden «amir Tatarstana»,” (in Russian),
[“The second went”: “Amir of Tatarstan” was convicted in Kazan.”], RealnoeVremya. April
26, 2016, https://realnoevremya.ru/articles/29864 (accessed April 15, 2018).
Darja Vanjashina, “Predvoditel’ tatarstanskih terroristov prigovoren k 22 godam kolonii,” (in
Russian), [“Leader of Tatarstan terrorists sentenced to 22 years in prison”], Komsomolskaya
Pravda, April 26, 2016, https://www.kazan.kp.ru/daily/26521/3538475/ (accessed April 15,
2018).
Angelina Golovataja, “Ne snimajte nas! My pozhaluemsja v Roskomnadzor!: pochti 250 let
tjur’my dlja jekstremistov,” (in Russian), [“Do not remove us! We will complain to Roskom-
nadzor!”: Almost 250 years of prison for extremists,”] Biznes Online, December 9, 2017,
https://www.business-gazeta.ru/article/366440 (accessed April 15, 2018).
Angelina Golovataja, “Aleksandr Shagulin, Al’bert Galiev, amir modzhahedov Tatarstana,
osuzhden na 22 goda,” (in Russian), [“Albert Galiyev, Amir of the Mujahideen of Tatarstan,
sentenced to 22 years”], Posredi, April 27, 2016, http://posredi.ru/amir-modzhaxedov-ta-
tarstana.html (accessed April 15, 2018).
72