| Aushev, Ruslan |
(b.1954) Major-General, in Soviet Army since 1971, veteran of Afghan campaign (1980-87). President of Ingushetia since March 1993. |
| Basayev, Shamil |
(b.1965) Most famous Chechen field commander, anathemised by Russian authorities as a terrorist. Studied in Moscow in 1980s and lived by trading computers. In November 1991 hijacked plane to Turkey; in 1992-3 led Chechen battalion fighting for Abkhazian separatists against Georgians; a leader of the defence of Grozny, 1994-5; led June 1995 raid on Budyonnovsk; in 1997 lost presidential elections to Maskhadov and briefly entered his government. |
| Berezovsky, Boris |
(b.1946) Media magnate and politician. Research associate at Academy of Sciences institute who moved from car dealership, into finance and gained influence over various media outlets, above all Channel One TV (ORT). Out of favour following Yeltsin's resignation. |
| Dudayev, Jokhar |
(1944–96) First President of Chechnya (1991–6). In Soviet air force and away from Chechnya since 1962 (with Russian wife Alla). Service in Afghanistan, based in Estonia 1987–90; in 1990 returned home, and led Chechen revolution. Killed in April 1996 when rocket tracked his satellite phone signal. |
| Gantamirov, Beslan |
(b.1963) Policeman turned businessman. Organiser of National Guard that helped Dudayev to power. Mayor of Grozny 1991–3, then went into opposition. Arrested and imprisoned in Moscow on fraud charges, May 1996. Returned to Chechnya in support of federal forces, October 1999. Again Mayor of Grozny from June 2000. |
| Kadyrov, Ahmad-Hadji |
(b.1951) Chief Mufti of Chechnya 1995–9; from June 2000 head of provisional administration appointed by Moscow (see Chapter 23). |
| Kazantsev, Victor |
General. Overall commander of combined forces in Chechnya. Head of North Caucasus Military District; in May 2000 appointed presidential "super-governor" for the Southern Area. |
| Khattab |
Alias of Saudi-born citizen fighting in Chechnya since February 1995. Veteran of Afghanistan, he brought with him mujahedin, self-professed Wahhabis, of Saudi and North African origin. |
| Kovalyov, Sergei |
(b.1930) Veteran human rights activist. In prison camps and internal exile from 1974 to 1984; member of every
Russian parliament since 1990. He stood down in 1999. Presidential human rights commissioner 1993–6 and most prominent critic of first war; spent winter of 1994–5 in Grozny as federal aviation bombed the Chechen capital. |
| Lebed, Alexander |
(b.1950) Lieutenant-General turned politician. Served in Afghanistan and "hot spots" of former Soviet Union, especially Moldova (1992–5). Ran for president in June 1996; in Yeltsin's admin-istration until his dismissal in October 1996, signed peace accords with Chechnya. In May 1998 elected governor of Krasnoyarsk Region, Siberia. |
| Maskhadov, Asian |
(b.1951) Colonel. Soviet army officer, 1969–91. Served in Baltic States and took part in January 1991 action by Soviet forces against Lithuanian independence activists. Chief of Staff of Chechen forces 1993–7; elected president of Chechnya in 1997. |
| Putin, Vladimir |
(b.1952) President of Russia, elected March 2000. KGB officer for 15 years (7 spent in Dresden), moved to Petersburg city administration, 1990–6 becoming deputy mayor; 1996 joined presidential staff, 1998 headed FSB (KGB successor), August 1999 appointed prime minister. Acting president in January 2000. |
| Shamanov, Anatoly |
(b.1957) Major-General served in both Chechen wars. Elected governor of Ulyanovsk Region in December 2000 (see Chapter 22). |
| Shoigu, Sergei |
(b.1955) Builder. RF Minister for Emergency Situations, 1991–9, led column of humanitarian aid to Serbia in spring 1999; made leader of Unity Party backing Putin. |
| Starovoitova, Galina |
(1946–98) Ethnographer who became Russia's most prominent woman politician. Yeltsin adviser on nationalities and ethnic policy 1990–2; from 1989 deputy of each successive Soviet and Russian legislative body. Led rump of "Democratic Russia" movement that supported Yeltsin in 1989–92. Shot dead in Petersburg. |
| Yeltsin, Boris |
(b.1931) Communist Party leader in Urals from 1968, transferred to Moscow in 1985, became a figurehead of radical opposition in Soviet Union, 1987–91. Elected President of Russia in June 1991; re-elected in July 1996. Started both wars in Chechnya. Resigned on New Year's Eve 2000. |