Caucasus Emirate
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The Caucasus Emirate also known as the Caucasian Emirate is a self proclaimed successor state to the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and was announced on October 31, 2007 by former President Doku Umarov. Its military branch is the Caucasian Front.
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[edit] History
On October 31, 2007, the separatist news agency Chechenpress reported that Umarov had proclaimed the Caucasus Emirate and declared himself its Emir, thereby abolishing the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and its presidency. In the same statement in which Umarov proclaimed the Caucasian Emirate, he also described the United States, the UK and Israel as common enemies of muslims worldwide.[1] However, on November 20, Anzor Astemirov, who himself took credit for the idea of the Caucasian Emirate[2], said that “Even if we threaten America and Europe every day, it is clear for anybody who understands politics that we do not have any real clashes of interests (with the West-AS)." He added, “The people in the White House know very well that we have nothing to do with America at the moment. In his statement, Astemirov not only described the Caucasian rebels’ threats against the West as empty, but also even asked the United States for assistance.[3] Following its criticism, many rebel websites removed the phrase that regarded western countries as enemies.[4]
The declaration of the Caucasian Emirate was quickly condemned by Akhmed Zakayev, Umarov's own minister of foreign affairs. Zakayev, who lives in exile in London, called upon all separatist fighters and politicians to pledge allegiance directly to the Chechen parliament in an attempt to isolate Umarov from power.[5] Zakayev expressed regret that Umarov had caved in to pressure from "provocateurs" and committed a "crime" that undermines the legitimacy of the ChRI.[6]
[edit] Structure
The Caucasus Emirate is composed of the following Vilayats:
- Vilayat Dagestan
- Vilayat Noxçiyçö (Chechnya)
- Vilayat Ġalġayçö (Ingushetia)
- Vilayat Iriston (Ossetia)
- Vilayat Nogay steppe (Areas inhabited by Nogay people in Dagestan and Chechnya)
- The joint Vilayat Kabarda, Balkar (Kabardino-Balkaria) and Karachay (the greater part of Karachay-Cherkessia) [7]
[edit] References
- ^ Official Release of the Statement by Amir Dokka Umarov about the Declaration of the Caucasus Emirate1
- ^ Chechnya Weekly from the Jamestown Foundation
- ^ Is the Caucasian Emirate a Threat to the Western World?
- ^ Rebel Hierarchy Changes in the Wake of Umarov's Emirate Decree
- ^ Chechenpress; Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
- ^ In Video, Chechen Separatist Leader Declares ‘Jihad’ On West
- ^ Amir of the Caucasus Emirate abolishes the Cabinet of Ministers, the Parliament of the former C.R.I.
