Special Purpose Islamic Regiment
Encyclopedia
The Special Purpose Islamic Regiment (SPIR) , also known as the al-Jihad-Fisi-Sabililah Special Islamic Regiment, was a Chechen
criminal organization loosely formed by renegade Chechen warlord Arbi Barayev
in 1996. It was regarded as one of the main hostage-taking, kidnapping, and oil-smuggling groups operating in Chechnya during the lawless interwar period that followed the 1994-1996 conflict
with Russia. It is most notorious for its role in the October 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis
, when some 800 hostages were taken in the Russia
n capital; by then, SPIR was headed by Movsar Barayev
- the nephew of Arbi (killed in 2001) - and probably never had more than 100 fighters at any given time. It might receive some external assistance from foreign fighters.
During Moscow theatre seizure, Movsar Barayev and some 40 men and women led by him (dubbed the "29th Suicide Division" that also included members of two other Chechen rebel groups, brought together by Shamil Basayev
) were killed in a raid by Russian special forces units Alfa
and Vympel
after having been incapicated by the chemical attack
that has also killed at least 129 of their hostages. The SPIR fighters under Yunadi Turchayev, who became a deputy of Dokka Umarov, also took part in the large-scale raid on central Grozny
in 2004, in which more than 100 combatants and civilians were killed.
In 2004, the United States Department of State
included "The Special Purpose Islamic Regiment (a.k.a. the Islamic Special Purpose Regiment, a.k.a. the al-Jihad-Fisi-Sabililah Special Islamic Regiment, a.k.a. Islamic Regiment of Special Meaning)" on the Terrorist Exclusion List under the USA PATRIOT Act
.
As of 2006 (when the SPIR has had at least seven commanders since it was founded), it reportedly continued to conduct limited guerrilla operations in Chechnya
under the leadership of the man known only as Amir Aslan, followed by Amirs Rashid and Abdul-Malik. On June 4, 2008, Alkavkaz website reported that Abdul-Malik and three of his comrades had been killed during skirmish in a forest near Grozny
.
Chechen people
Chechens constitute the largest native ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus region. They refer to themselves as Noxçi . Also known as Sadiks , Gargareans, Malkhs...
criminal organization loosely formed by renegade Chechen warlord Arbi Barayev
Arbi Barayev
Arbi Alautdinovich Barayev , nicknamed "The Terminator", was a renegade Chechen warlord often accused of clandestine links with the Russian special services...
in 1996. It was regarded as one of the main hostage-taking, kidnapping, and oil-smuggling groups operating in Chechnya during the lawless interwar period that followed the 1994-1996 conflict
First Chechen War
The First Chechen War, also known as the War in Chechnya, was a conflict between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, fought from December 1994 to August 1996...
with Russia. It is most notorious for its role in the October 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis
Moscow theater hostage crisis
The Moscow theater hostage crisis, also known as the 2002 Nord-Ost siege, was the seizure of the crowded Dubrovka Theater on 23 October 2002 by some 40 to 50 armed Chechens who claimed allegiance to the Islamist militant separatist movement in Chechnya. They took 850 hostages and demanded the...
, when some 800 hostages were taken in the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n capital; by then, SPIR was headed by Movsar Barayev
Movsar Barayev
Movsar Buharovich Barayev , earlier known as Suleimanov, was a Chechen and militia leader during the Second Chechen War, who led the seizure of a Moscow theater that led to the deaths of over 170 people.-Life:...
- the nephew of Arbi (killed in 2001) - and probably never had more than 100 fighters at any given time. It might receive some external assistance from foreign fighters.
During Moscow theatre seizure, Movsar Barayev and some 40 men and women led by him (dubbed the "29th Suicide Division" that also included members of two other Chechen rebel groups, brought together by Shamil Basayev
Shamil Basayev
Shamil Salmanovich Basayev was a Chechen militant Islamist and a leader of the Chechen rebel movement.Starting as a field commander in the Transcaucasus, Basayev led guerrilla campaigns against the Russian troops for years, as well as launching mass-hostage takings of civilians, with his goal...
) were killed in a raid by Russian special forces units Alfa
Alfa
Alfa may refer to:* A grass also called esparto.* ALFA , an international indoor rowing competition in Estonia* Alfa , a Lebanese telecom company* ALFA , a Mexican industrial conglomerate* Alfa , a title in Guinea...
and Vympel
Vympel
Vympel , also known as KGB Directorate "B" ,Vega Group or Spetsgruppa V, Group B is a Russian special forces unit....
after having been incapicated by the chemical attack
Moscow hostage crisis chemical agent
The chemical agent used in the Moscow theatre hostage crisis has never been definitively revealed by the Russian authorities, though many possible identities have been speculated...
that has also killed at least 129 of their hostages. The SPIR fighters under Yunadi Turchayev, who became a deputy of Dokka Umarov, also took part in the large-scale raid on central Grozny
2004 Grozny raid
2004 raid on Grozny was a series of overnight attacks in central Grozny, capital of Chechnya.According to estimates of the investigation group, 250-400 fighters entered the city on August 21, established their own roadblocks, and simultaneously attacked a number of polling stations and other...
in 2004, in which more than 100 combatants and civilians were killed.
In 2004, the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
included "The Special Purpose Islamic Regiment (a.k.a. the Islamic Special Purpose Regiment, a.k.a. the al-Jihad-Fisi-Sabililah Special Islamic Regiment, a.k.a. Islamic Regiment of Special Meaning)" on the Terrorist Exclusion List under the USA PATRIOT Act
USA PATRIOT Act
The USA PATRIOT Act is an Act of the U.S. Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001...
.
As of 2006 (when the SPIR has had at least seven commanders since it was founded), it reportedly continued to conduct limited guerrilla operations in Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
under the leadership of the man known only as Amir Aslan, followed by Amirs Rashid and Abdul-Malik. On June 4, 2008, Alkavkaz website reported that Abdul-Malik and three of his comrades had been killed during skirmish in a forest near Grozny
Grozny
Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the preliminary results of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 271,596; up from 210,720 recorded in the 2002 Census. but still only about two-thirds of 399,688 recorded in the 1989...
.
External links
- Special Purpose Islamic Regiment (GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...
)