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Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs 

The Beginnings

 

Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs was founded by Shamil Basayev in 1999, who was also the co-founder of the International Islamic Peacekeeping Brigade. This particular group is known by many names including: Riyadh-as-Saliheen, Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs, Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage, Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion, ect.

This group was founded with the intentions of establishing an independent Chechnya. However, Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs built close relationships with other prominent North Caucasian terrorist organizations including the IIPB, the Special Purpose Islamic Regiment (SPIR), the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and Al Qaeda. He was able to develop a speaacial connection with Al Qaeda through his friendship with Al-Khattab, who was also the co-founder of IIPB  along with Basayev. Due to these new found friendships and connections, the group eventually expanded its primary objective of Chechen independence to include independence for the whole North Caucasus.

 

Means of Achievement of Ideologies

 

As a means of achieving Chechen independence, Shamil Basayev promoted collaboration among his newly founded connections and thusly he orchestrated small-scale and major attacks, including the 2002 Moscow theatre siege. The group took credit for the December 2002 attack at the pro-Chechen government headquarters, killing 80 people and wounding over 150.

 

Downfall

 

Shamil Basayev who founded and expanded the group was killed by Russian security forces in 2006; however, he was replaced by Aslan Butukayev. Butukayev was not a very profound leader, ergo the group lost wind until Doku Umarov revived Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs under the Caucasus Emirate. Since its revival, Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs has taken credit for several small-scale attacks and two large-scale attacks: the 2010 Moscow Metro bombings and 2011 Domodedovo Airport attacks.

More Info:
 

Annotated Biblography 

 

 "Riyadus-Salikhin (Gardens of the Righteous)." Agentura.ru. N.p., 2011. Web. July 2012. <http://www.agentura.ru/english/terrorism/organizations/Riyadus-Salikhin/>.

 

This article gives a basic understanding of how the Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs was formed, where they were located and the ideology and goals of the group.

 

 Harding, Luke, and Tom Parfitt. "Domodedovo Airport Hit by Deadly Bombing." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 24 Jan. 2011. Web. July 2012. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/24/domodedovo-airport-bombing-moscow>.

 

This article gives a firsthand account of the Domodedovo Airport Hit Bombing committed by the the Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs. The devastation and aftermath of the bombing was detailed.  

 

 "Terrorist Organization Profile - START - National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism." Terrorist Organization Profile - START - National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. University of Maryland, 2010. Web. July 2012.<http://www.start.umd.edu/start/data_collections/tops/terrorist_organization_profile.asp?id=3673>.

 

This article gives a basic understanding of the terrorist group the Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs, ie. How it started where it was formed and a basic outline of the group’s idealogy.

 

 "Taliban, Al-Qaida, Sanctions Committee, United Nations 1267 Committee, Resolution 1267." UN News Center. UN, 04 Mar. 2003. <http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/NSQE10003E.shtml>.}} 

 

This article focuses primarily on the terrorist group Al-Qaida, but while doing so it also explains the ideology of the terrorist group the Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs because this group based many of its ideologies on those of Al-Qaida.  

 

Gartenstein-Ross, Daveed."The American Spectator." The American Spectator. N.p., 14 July 2006. <http://spectator.org/archives/2006/07/14/the-death-of-shamil-basayev>.

 

This article explains how Russian security forces killed Shamil Basayev, Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs leader and founder, in 2006. This constituted a major blow to Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs and to all terrorist organizations in the North Caucasus. Basayev served as the mastermind behind countless attacks and as the primary link to Al-Qaeda

 

 "Female Suicide Bombers Blamed in Moscow Subway Attacks." CNN. CNN, 29 Mar. 2010. <http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-29/world/russia.subway.explosion_1_suicide-bombers-chechen-rebels-subway-stations?_s=PM:WORLD>.

 

This article outlines the great devastation that “the black widow” bombers who were connected to the Riyad us-Salien Brigade of Martyrs inflicted upon Moscow Subways.

 

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