Magomed Aliyevich Suleimanov (Russian: Мухаммад Алиевич Сулейманов; 29 February 1976 – 11 August 2015), also known as Abu Usman Gimrinsky (Russian: Абу Усман Гимринский), was a Dagestani Islamist in Russia and the third leader of the Caucasus Emirate militant group.
Magomed Aliyevich Suleimanov | |
|---|---|
Мухаммад Алиевич Сулейманов | |
| Emir of the Caucasus Emirate | |
| In office 2 July 2015[1] – 11 August 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Aliaskhab Kebekov |
| Succeeded by | Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 February 1976 Gimry, Dagestan ASSR, RSFSR, USSR |
| Died | 11 August 2015 (aged 39) Gimry, Dagestan, Russia |
| Nationality | Avar |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | Insurgency in the North Caucasus |
Biography
editAn ethnic Avar from the Dagestani village of Gimry, Suleimanov studied at the Fatah al-Islami University in Damascus in 1992. In 2005, he returned to Dagestan and became the Qadi (judge) of the central mosque in Gimry. In 2006, Suleimanov joined Dagestan's armed insurgency, however in 2008 he surrendered to authorities and received an amnesty.[2]
In 2009, Suleimanov rejoined the insurgency, where he would serve as both the Qadi of the Caucasus Emirate's Vilayat Dagestan branch, and the military commander of Vilayat Dagestan's Mountain Sector, which included his home village of Gimry.[3]
In 2014, Rustam Asildarov and a number of other senior Caucasus Emirate commanders announced their defection to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), swearing an oath of allegiance to its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Both, Suleimanov and Caucasus Emirate leader, Aliaskhab Kebekov, condemned this as a betrayal.[4]
Following the killing of Aliaskhab Kebekov by Russian security forces in April 2015, Suleimanov was chosen as the new leader of the Caucasus Emirate,[3] however he was not formally announced until 2 July 2015.[1]
Death
editOn 11 August 2015, Magomed Suleimanov was killed in special operations by Russian security forces during a raid near Gimry in Russia's republic of Dagestan.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b "Appointment of new emir reaffirms Imarat Kavkaz's ties to Al-Qaeda". Jane's Information Group. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ "Will Abu Usman Gimrinsky Become the Dagestani Insurgency's New Amir?". Jamestown Foundation. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ a b "North Caucasus Insurgency Selects New Leader". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ Liz Fuller (2015-01-02). "Six North Caucasus Insurgency Commanders Transfer Allegiance To Islamic State". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
- ^ "Leader Of Self-Proclaimed Caucasus Emirate Killed In Daghestan". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.