Narrative
Narrative of the Organization's History
Narrative of the Organization's History
Leadership, Name Changes, Size Estimates, Resources, Geographic Locations
Ideology, Aims, Political Activities, Targets, and Tactics
First Attacks, Largest Attacks, Notable Attacks
Foreign Designations and Listings, Community Relations, Relations with Other Groups, State Sponsors and External Influences
Mapping relationships with other militant groups over time in regional maps
Riyadus-Salikhin was an Islamic fundamentalist and jihad organization that sought to achieve Chechen independence. It later expanded its mission to establishment of an independent Islamic state encompassing the North Caucasus. In the mid 2000s, largely due to outside influence and support from Al Qaeda, Riyadus-Salikhin adopted radical Islamism and the idea of global jihad.
Operating as a unit of the Caucasus Emirate, Riyadus-Salikhin continued to support global jihad and targeted anyone who opposed the mission of the mujahideen.[24]
There are no recorded political activities for this group.
Riyadus-Salikhin targeted all those who opposed independence for the North Caucasus. It launched attacks and guerrilla operations on Russian forces, Chechen civilians, and pro-Russian Chechen forces. The group adopted a strategy of attrition and focused on inflicting high casualties against Russian forces.[25] Riyadus-Salikhin used suicide attacks, bombings, hostage-takings, and kidnappings for ransom to achieve its goals.[26] The group’s most recognizable attacks, the Moscow theater hostage crisis in 2002 and the 2010 Moscow metro bombings, employed female suicide bombers, known as Black Widows.[27]
Riyadus-Salikhin was known as one of the most lethal Islamist militant groups in the North Caucasus after 9/11. It was allegedly the first organization in the region to launch a major hostage operation with a large suicide unit, consider radiological attacks, and post live videos of beheadings for blackmail.[28]
Disclaimer: These are some selected major attacks in the militant organization's history. It is not a comprehensive listing but captures some of the most famous attacks or turning points during the campaign.
October 23, 2002: Riyadus-Salikhin collaborated with the SPIR and the IIPB to attack Moscow's Dubrovka Theater. The groups held over 800 people hostage and threatened to kill them if the Russian Federation did not recognize Chechnya's independence. Russian security forces were able to free the hostages; however, around 130 hostages, all of the attackers, and SPIR leader Movsar Barayev were killed during the rescue attempt (170 killed, unknown wounded).[29]
December 27, 2002: Riyadus-Salikhin leader Basayev claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings of the headquarters of the pro-Russian government in Grozny, Chechnya (80+ killed, 150+ wounded).[30]
August 2004: Riyadus-Salikhin launched simultaneous suicide bombings on two Russian civilian airplanes headed for Volgograd and Sochi. All 90 passengers were killed in the attack (90 killed, unknown wounded).[31]
September 3, 2004: Riyadus-Salikhin founder Basayev masterminded a crisis in which militants took over 1,000 hostages, mostly children, at a school in Beslan, North Ossetia. Riyadus-Salikhin threatened to kill more people if Russia did not end its atrocities in Chechnya in the ongoing Second Chechen War. After a three-day siege, Russian security forces managed to enter the school and free about 700 of the hostages using heavy weapons (332 killed, 780 wounded).[32]
June 23, 2009: Riyadus-Salikhin claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing of a presidential motorcade that severely wounded the Ingushetian president, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov (1+ killed, several wounded).[33]
March 29, 2010: Directed by Caucasus Emirate’s leader Umarov, two female suicide bombers from Riyadus-Salikhin attacked two major Moscow Metro stations (40 killed, 100 wounded).[34]
August 29, 2010: Riyadus-Salikhin, operating under the CE’s command, launched a suicide attack on the Chechen village of Tsentoroi, the hometown of pro-Russian Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov (16 killed, 24 wounded).[35]
June 10, 2011: Riyadus-Salikhin leader Butukayev authorized the murder of a former colonel of the Russian Armed Forces, Yuriy D. Budaev, in Moscow (1 killed, unknown wounded).[36]
Riyadus-Salikhin, alongside other radical militant groups such as the IIPB and the SPIR, allegedly clashed with mainstream Chechen society, as its radical Salafi ideology conflicted with the moderate Sufi Islam followed by most Chechens.[40]
Riyadus-Salikhin had a strong relationship with Al Qaeda (AQ) as its founder, Shamil Basayev, built a close partnership with AQ member Omar Ibn al-Khattab, co-founder of the IIPB. In March 1994, Basayev toured AQ training camps in Afghanistan and trained with AQ brigades in Afghanistan.[41] After an October 1999 meeting between bin Laden and Chechen emissaries loyal to Basayev and Khattab, bin Laden sent several hundred Arab militants to fight Russian forces in the North Caucasus. He also provided financial assistance to the militant groups to be used for training of gunmen, recruitment, and purchase of ammunition.[42] This relationship was allegedly reciprocal; Basayev and Khattab are reported to have sent groups of Chechen fighters to Afghanistan in 2001 to train and fight with AQ brigades. However, the extent of Chechen militants’ involvement in Arab conflicts has not been verified.[43] Basayev also supported AQ’s mission of a global jihad by allowing the group to operate training camps in the North Caucasus.
Riyadus-Salikhin collaborated with other militant groups in the region, including the International Islamic Peacekeeping Brigade (IIPB) and the Special Purpose Islamic Regiment (SPIR), to launch and threaten attacks against civilians and government targets.[44] These militant Islamic groups sought to obtain Chechen independence from the Russian Federation and the establishment of an Islamic state ruled by shariah law.[45] Riyadus-Salikhin allegedly drew many of its members and leaders from the ranks of the IIPB and the SPIR.
Riyadus-Salikhin had a complicated relationship with the secessionist government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (CRI). While Riyadus leader Basayev served in numerous top positions in the CRI, after aligning with radical Islamists in early 1999, Basayev actively sought to undermine CRI President Maskhadov. Basayev also criticized Maskhadov’s pursuit of a political settlement with Russia, instead advocating subversive action. However, Basayev rejoined the leadership of the CRI when he was appointed vice president in June 2006, likely bringing closer the operations of Riyadus-Salikhin and the CRI.[46] In 2009, Caucasus Emirate (CE), the successor organization of the CRI, restored Riyadus-Salikhin. Since then, the group has claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks and allegedly operates under the orders of CE leader Umarov as a unit of the Caucasus Emirate.[47]
Al Qaeda exercised significant tactical and ideological influence over Riyadus-Salikhin. The militant group offered training for Chechen rebels in Afghanistan, funded training camps in the North Caucasus, and sent hundreds of its fighters to fight Russian forces in the North Caucasus. Due to its extensive ties to AQ, Riyadus-Salikhin expanded its goals from Chechen independence to pursuit of a global jihadist ideology.[48]
[1] Leung, Rebecca. “Terror In Moscow.” CBS News, 11 Feb. 2009. Web. 15 July 2012; “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” UN Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 05 Aug. 2018.
[2] “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” UN Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 05 Aug. 2018.
[3] Abbas, Hassan. “State Department Blacklists Three Chechen Groups.” The Jamestown Foundation, 2003. Web. 06 Aug. 2018.
[4] “Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty Newsline.” Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, 29 Oct. 1999. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
[5] “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” UN Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 05 Aug. 2018.
[6] “Taliban, Al-Qaida, Sanctions Committee, United Nations 1267 Committee, Resolution 1267.” UN News Center, 04 March 2003. Web. 20 July 2012; Gartenstein-Ross, Daveed. “The Death of Shamil Basayev.” The American Spectator, 14 July 2006. Web. 20 July 2012.
[7] “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” UN Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 05 Aug. 2018.
[8] Dolnik, Adam. Understanding Terrorist Innovation Technology, Tactics and Global Trends. London: Routledge, 2007. Print.
[9] “Taliban, Al-Qaida, Sanctions Committee, United Nations 1267 Committee, Resolution 1267.” UN News Center, 04 March 2003. Web. 20 July 2012.
[10] “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” UN Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 08 Aug. 2018.
[11] Abbas, Hassan. “State Department Blacklists Three Chechen Groups.” The Jamestown Foundation, 2003. Web. 06 Aug. 2018.
[12] “Emarat Kavkaz | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” UN Security Council, 29 July 2011. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
[13] “Female Suicide Bombers Blamed in Moscow Subway Attacks.” CNN, 29 March 2010. Web. July 2012; “Taliban, Al-Qaida, Sanctions Committee, United Nations 1267 Committee, Resolution 1267." UN News Center, 04 March 2003. Web. 20 July 2012; “Surge in North Caucasus Violence Reflects Diversification of Resistance Tactics.” Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, 18 Aug. 2009. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
[14] Harding, Luke, and Tom Parfitt. “Domodedovo Airport Hit by Deadly Bombing.” The Guardian, 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 12 July 2012; Roggio, Bill. “Police Defeat Caucasus Emirate assault on Chechen president’s hometown.” The Long War Journal. 29 Aug. 2010. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
[15] Joscelyn, Thomas. “Ex-Gitmo detainee, Islamic State’s leader in Chechnya designated by State Department.” The Long War Journal. 13 July 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
[16] “Chronology for Chechens in Russia.” RefWorld, n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2018.
[17] Gartenstein-Ross, Daveed. “The Death of Shamil Basayev.” The American Spectator, 14 July 2006. Web. 20 July 2012.
[18] “Riyadus-Salikhin (Gardens of the Righteous).” Agentura.Ru Studies and Research Centre, 2011. Web. 10 July 2012.
[19] “State Department Terrorist Designations of Aslan Avgazarovich Byutukaev and Ayrat Nasimovich Vakhitov.” U.S. Department of State, 13 July 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
[20] “Taliban, Al-Qaida, Sanctions Committee, United Nations 1267 Committee, Resolution 1267.” UN News Center, 04 Mar. 2003. Web. July 2012.
[21] “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” U.N. Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 08 Aug. 2018.
[22] Roggio, Bill. “35 killed in suicide attack at Moscow airport.” The Long War Journal. 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
[23] “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage.” The Investigative Project on Terrorism, n.d. Web. 09 Aug. 2018.
[24] Dolnik, Adam. Understanding Terrorist Innovation Technology, Tactics and Global Trends. London: Routledge, 2007. Print.
[25] Michael, George. “A Review of: ‘Understanding Terrorist Innovation: Technology, Tactics and Global Trends.” Terrorism and Political Violence, Jan. 2009. Web. 08 Aug. 2018.
[26] Dolnik, Adam. Understanding Terrorist Innovation Technology, Tactics and Global Trends. London: Routledge, 2007. Print.
[27] Hodge, Nathan. “Russia’s ‘Black Widow’ Suicide Bombers Make a Return.” WIRED, 30 March 2010. Web. 22 July 2012.
[28] Dolnik, Adam. Understanding Terrorist Innovation Technology, Tactics and Global Trends. London: Routledge, 2007. Print.
[29] Leung, Rebecca. “Terror In Moscow.” CBS News, 11 Feb. 2009. Web. 15 July 2012; “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” UN Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 05 Aug. 2018.
[30] “Truck bombs kill at least 35 in Grozny.” The Guardian, 27 Dec. 2002. Web. 06 Aug. 2018; “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” UN Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 05 Aug. 2018.
[31] “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage.” The Investigative Project on Terrorism, n.d. Web. 09 Aug. 2018; “Timeline of Russian terror attacks.” The Guardian, 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
[32] “Beslan school siege: Russia ‘failed’ in 2004 massacre.” BBC News, 13 April 2017. Web. 10 Aug. 2018.
[33] “Surge in North Caucasus Violence Reflects Diversification of Resistance Tactics.” Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, 18 Aug. 2009. Web. 13 Aug. 2018; Pan, Philip P. “Bomb Wounds Yevkurov, President of Russia’s Ingushetia Region.” Washington Post Foreign Service, 23 June 2009. Web. 10 Aug. 2018.
[34] “Female Suicide Bombers Blamed in Moscow Subway Attacks.” CNN, 29 March 2010. Web. July 2012.
[35] Roggio, Bill. “Police Defeat Caucasus Emirate assault on Chechen president’s hometown.” The Long War Journal. 29 Aug. 2010. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
[36] “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” UN Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 05 Aug. 2018.
[37] “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” UN Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 09 Aug. 2018.
[38] Abbas, Hassan. “State Department Blacklists Three Chechen Groups.” The Jamestown Foundation, 2003. Web. 06 Aug. 2018.
[39] “Terrorist Exclusion List.” U.S. Department of State, 29 Dec. 2004. Web. 25 July 2012.
[40] “In the Spotlight: The Special Purpose Islamic Regiment.” Center for Defense Information, 02 May 2003. Web. 06 Aug. 2018.
[41] Abbas, Hassan. “State Department Blacklists Three Chechen Groups.” The Jamestown Foundation, 2003. Web. 06 Aug. 2018.
[42] “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” U.N. Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 08 Aug. 2018.
[43] Abbas, Hassan. “State Department Blacklists Three Chechen Groups.” The Jamestown Foundation, 2003. Web. 06 Aug. 2018.
[44] Moore, Cerwyn. “The Radicalisation of the Chechen Separatist Movement: Myth or Reality?” Prague Watchdog, 16 May 2007. Web. 25 July 2012.
[45] Bhattacharji, Preeti. “Chechen Terrorism (Russia, Chechnya, Separatist).” Council on Foreign Relations, 08 Apr. 2010. Web. 15 May 2012; “Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM) | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” U.N. Security Council, 07 Sept. 2010. Web. 08 Aug. 2018.
[46] Fuller, Liz. “Chechnya: The Rise of Russia’s ‘Terrorist No. 1.’” Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, 28 June 2006. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.
[47] “Emarat Kavkaz | Narrative Summaries of Reasons for Listing.” UN Security Council, 29 July 2011. Web. 13 Aug. 2018
[48] Roggio, Bill. “35 killed in suicide attack at Moscow airport.” The Long War Journal. 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 13 Aug. 2018.