Son of slain Chechen rebel Maskhadov vows to continue father's work
{{date|March 9, 2005}}
After the recent killing of [[Chechnya|Chechen]] rebel leader {{w|Aslan Maskhadov}}, it was not clear who would take his place. His son Anzor Maskhadov, aged 29, has quickly emerged as the most likely candidate to carry on his father's work.

Speaking at his home in {{w|Baku}}, [[Azerbaijan]], Mr. Maskhadov told the [[Reuters|Reuters news agency]] ''"I will continue my father's work. I have been in touch with his associates who are living abroad."'' He went on to describe the killing of his father as a ''"terrorist act"'' planned by the [[Russia]]n authorities.

The Chechnya area of Russia has effectively been at war with Russia for much of the past decade: pro-independence guerrilla groups are faced by Russian regular army and special police forces. Numerous crimes against civilians and human rights infringement incidents reported in the area, involving both Russian army and rebel groups. 

Late President Maskhadov was considered a moderate pro-independence Chechen leader, in contrast with {{w|Shamil Basayev}}. He made numerous negotiations offers, all of them left unanswered by the {{w|Kremlin}}. With Russian forces nominally controlling most of the Chechnya, his ability to control Chechen warlords was being questioned, though he reportedly managed to maintain lateral cease-fire in most parts of Chechnya shortly before his death. 

Maskhadov was the last publicly elected leader of the self-proclaimed Republic of Ichkeria. It's first elected president, {{w|Dzhokhar Dudayev}} was killed in the sophisticated special forces operation of Russia's [[FSB]] in the 1990s.

Russian state run-media and MPs hailed the killing of Mr. Maskhadov — many believing his rebels were responsible for the {{w|Beslan school hostage crisis|Beslan school siege}} and the {{w|Moscow theater hostage crisis}} in 2004.

Russian government took the hard-line position against Chechen rebels, denying any negotiations with the rebels after hostage takings and bomb explosions in [[Moscow]] ({{w|Nord-Ost}}), downed airliners, hostage taking in {{w|Beslan}} and other terrorist acts attributed to Chechen rebel groups. In many cases, Chechen groups claimed responsibility for these acts. Maskhadov denied any involvement in terrorist acts. According to Russian government's point of view, the war in Chechnya is merely a 'counter-terrorist operation' with an objective to 'restore the constitutional order'.

==Related news==

*{{wikinews|title=Chechen leader killed by Russian Special Forces|date=March 8, 2005}}

==Sources==

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4333067.stm| title=Russian MPs hail Maskhadov death | author= |pub=BBC News Online|date=March 9, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=565628| title=Basayev Head After Chechen Rebel's Death | author=Maria Danilov |pub=ABC News (US)|date=March 9, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7854534| title=Maskhadov's Son Vows to Continue Dad's Chechen Work | author= |pub=Reuters|date=March 9, 2005}}

{{publish}}
{{archive}}

[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Russia]]
[[Category:Moscow]]
[[Category:Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Chechnya]]
[[Category:Federal Security Service]]
After the recent killing of Chechen rebel leader , it was not clear who would take his place. His son Anzor Maskhadov, aged 29, has quickly emerged as the most likely candidate to carry on his father's work.

Speaking at his home in , Azerbaijan, Mr. Maskhadov told the Reuters news agency "I will continue my father's work. I have been in touch with his associates who are living abroad." He went on to describe the killing of his father as a "terrorist act" planned by the Russian authorities.

The Chechnya area of Russia has effectively been at war with Russia for much of the past decade: pro-independence guerrilla groups are faced by Russian regular army and special police forces. Numerous crimes against civilians and human rights infringement incidents reported in the area, involving both Russian army and rebel groups. 

Late President Maskhadov was considered a moderate pro-independence Chechen leader, in contrast with Kremlin. With Russian forces nominally controlling most of the Chechnya, his ability to control Chechen warlords was being questioned, though he reportedly managed to maintain lateral cease-fire in most parts of Chechnya shortly before his death. 

Maskhadov was the last publicly elected leader of the self-proclaimed Republic of Ichkeria. It's first elected president,  was killed in the sophisticated special forces operation of Russia's FSB in the 1990s.

Russian state run-media and MPs hailed the killing of Mr. Maskhadov — many believing his rebels were responsible for the Beslan school siege and the  in 2004.

Russian government took the hard-line position against Chechen rebels, denying any negotiations with the rebels after hostage takings and bomb explosions in Moscow (Beslan and other terrorist acts attributed to Chechen rebel groups. In many cases, Chechen groups claimed responsibility for these acts. Maskhadov denied any involvement in terrorist acts. According to Russian government's point of view, the war in Chechnya is merely a 'counter-terrorist operation' with an objective to 'restore the constitutional order'.
Politics and conflicts Crime and law Europe Russia Moscow Azerbaijan Chechnya Federal Security Service