Modern Radical Islamic Movements and Russian Special Services Tactic in the North Caucasus (History and Modernity)

Modern Radical Islamic Movements and Russian Special Services Tactic in the North Caucasus

(History and Modernity)
                                                                                                              Tengiz Simashvili

The Sunni Islam Fundamental direction(Wahhabis) were spread in North Caucasus mainly with the form of Radical Islam in 1990.   Nowadays Members of the Radical Islamic Movement in the North Caucasus republics of the Russian Federal State are fighting against central government under the usage of Terrorist War methods and ways. In fact, their armed detachments have become Terrorist Organizations.

At present, Central Russian government Special Services of Russian Federation changed own tactic and have made orientation on a wide usage of the secret agents against Radical Islamic Movement in North Caucasus.

Special Services modern Russian Federation are using against the Radical Islamic Movement acting in the North Caucasus republics analog strategy, tactic, methods and ways used by the Russian Imperia and Soviet Special services. Thus, studying and analyzing the history of Russian Special Services is necessary and inevitable - everything new is well forgotten old.

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Modern Radical Islamic Movements in the North Caucasus

1994-2005

Wahhabis - the Islamic Sunni Fundamental direction was spread mainly in North Caucasus with the form of Radical Islam. At the beginning of 1990, representatives of Wahhabis religious direction, in North Caucasus Republics first of all began to found ecclesiastic schools, teaching Arabian, spreading Koran without charge and other peaceful and charitable activities. Followers of Wahhabis then made the so-called “Islamic” Universities, military-training camps. Began ideological and military preparation of their followers.[T. SimaSvili, ,”Terroristic wars and vahabism”, Collection of works of political science Institute “Tselitsdeuli”,  Tbilisi, 2005, pg. 267-271, (on Georgian)]

At the beginning of 1990, Russian State structures considered, that Wahhabis in North Caucasus weren’t dangerous, as they revealed negative attitude towards the representatives of Traditional Islam. In their opinion, Traditional Islam was the ideology of newly appeared ‘’Popular Fronts’’, parties which were appearing with national sovereignty getting slogans and were opposing to central authority. That’s why from one side, they thought that Wahhabis will make the local, Traditional Islam followers weak. From another side, they supposed that with the help of this policy they’ll be able to weaken the local population separatist attitude, as they’ll be included in religious opposition, began between Traditional and Fundamental Islamic directions. Various Muslims population of North Caucasus actively began mastering the Wahhabis ideas. Traditional Islam representatives opposed to Islam Wahhabis followers. And then the result turned out to be deplorable for Russia. From the end of 1990, exactly Wahhabis turned into main motive power of Terroristic War against Russian State in North Caucasus.

According to Russian sources, nowadays, almost in all North Caucasus Republics, there takes place Wahhabis “Jamaat”.[Caucasian Regional Studies (1999), ,,Исламский фундаментализм насеверном кавказе: к постановке проблемы". http://www.izvestia.ru/articles/article828314/] Existence of customs characteristic for patrimonial relations among the people, who recognize Islam helps to unite persons in “Jamaat’s” into one purposeful force. Wahhabis “discussions” change its members unification tradition with the members of kindred tribe. It inspires, that it is united with its like-minded people under stronger factor, common religious idea and their “Jamaat” is the plenipotentiary part of world’s Muslim community (“Uma”). Strained tribal relations, characteristic for Traditional Islam is very important for the motivation of younger’s entering into Wahhabis “Jamaat”. By entering into “Jamaat” they are trying to overcome the ancient things in their opinion – authority of elders, youngster’s minor role in discussing the tribal issues of the day, their ignorance in local administrating structures in governing country, small town and others. Hard social condition of the region inhabitants pushes youngsters to unite into Wahhabis “Jamaat”.[В.Речкалов(10.12.2004), ,,Идеология Басаева”, ,,Известия”, http://www.izvestia.ru/articles/]

Nowadays, many Wahhabis are in North Caucasus Republics.       At present, on the one hand, Central authority of Russia changed its tactic and began to support the local, traditional Islam representatives in North Caucasus. It tries to use them in the struggle against Islamic Radical Movements. In this situation, Wahhabis adjusted to the North Caucasus specification from the other side. For example, in Dagestan twelve nations and more than thirty ethnic groups are inhabited. Other republics are of more or less variety too. Central Authority of Russia take orientation on the tradition, characteristic for the Soviet Period – on supporting separate nations, ethnic groups, on giving more political power to them in compare with others. [М. Шевченко (17.05.1997), ,,Ваххабиты готовы к бою'' (Противостояние в горном Дагестане грозит перейти в стадию религиозной войны): ,,Независимая Газета'’.http://www.uni-potsdam.de/u/slavistik/zarchiv/0597m/k089-11.htm]

For example, Russians chose Kabardians as the basis in the Republic of Kabardo-Balkarya. Generally, Balkarian regions of Kabardo-Balkarya republic are the poorest and socially badly organized. This and the above mentioned discrimination treatment – oppression of the population to take part in the social-political life of the republic, played the role of catalyst for consolidating in radical Islamic Organizations of the local youth. That’s why, in this republic, which was selected with its calmness in North Caucasus, Wahhabis began to be active enough during the last years. Mainly the ethnical Balkaryans are united in local Wahhabis “Jamaat”.

     And, on the another hand, Central Russian government Special Services of Russian Federation changed own tactic and have made orientation on a wide usage of the secret agents against Radical Islamic Movement in North Caucasus.

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Russian Special Services in the North Caucasus – History and

Modernity

After physical destruction of “Al-Qaeda” local leaders and even Bin Laden, Antiterrorist Analytic Centers have already started to speak loudly, that in the process of fighting Islamic Terrorism – the most dangerous manifestation of International Radical Islamic Movement, it is necessary to use  the secret agents with wider scales.

Nowadays Members of the Radical Islamic Movement in the North Caucasus republics of the Russian Federal State are fighting against central government under the usage of Terrorist War methods and ways. In fact, their armed detachments have become Terrorist Organizations. In recent years they are acting mostly as, 3-5 men  groups. For example, in recent years, so called Karachay-Cherkess “Jamaat” acts as autonomous, divided into small armed groups, with network system.[ЛИШЬ ВОПРОС ВРЕМЕНИ. ТЕРАКТ В МЕТРО БЫЛ ЗАПЛАНИРОВАН ДАВНО”,СОЛДАТОВ, А., БОРОГАН, И., 08. 30 2010, http://www.ej.ru/?a=note&id=9983] Special Services of Russian Federation have arrested many members of this “Jamaat”. So they could to gain the information directly during their interrogatory process. Despite this, they haven’t been able to destroy Karachay-Cherkess “Jamaat” completely. The point is that, arresting separated small armed group fighters (“Mujahedeen” or “fighters,” it is depended to whose view will we share – Radical Islamic Movement or their opponents), doesn’t mean gaining full information on other armed parts being in “Jamaat” Accordingly, moving of “Jamaat” on autonomous, network system terrorist actions made quite difficult for Russian Federation Special Services to gain information on inner actions.

According to the historical experience, the most effective against autonomously acting, large or small terrorist groups, is the usage of the secret agents.  Just through the secret agents is possible to “explore” effective network of a Terrorist Organization and identification of the members of “fighting cells.” It is obvious that producing such activity or collecting the information is not possible from separated armed groups, simple members. As usual, they know only the members and leader of their group and have no information on other groups. Correspondingly, the main goal for special services fighting against autonomously acting terrorist Organizations is to arrest leader of Terrorist Organization or “cell”, gaining relatively complete information from them, or their winning over under this goal – so called “making them agents.”   

After terrorist acts performed one by another in the central cities of Russia by the representatives of the Radical Islamic Movement acting in the republics of the North Caucasus, special services of Russian Federation have made orientation on a wide usage of the secret agents. Also they’ve changed the tactic for using the secret agents. Earlier, in 1990s, information gained by the agents was basically used for physical liquidation of members of the Radical Islamic Movement and Islamic Terrorist Organizations and their supporters. In recent years they’ve improved their activity and started usage of the secret agents in long-term perspective actively. It is expressed in the fact, that first of all they try to get information through the secret agents for a long time for “exploring” Terrorist Organization network effectively – they collect complete information on organization connections, sources of finance and members’ identity. And then, they implement effective counter-measures, and the second one, through hierarchically promoted agents, they try to manage Terrorist Organizations, namely encourage them for doing such actions those are in the interests of Special Services. [T. Simashvili, “Secret (Political) Police Against Revolutionary Parties in Georgia 1894-1908”(Strategy, Tactics, Methods uses of an agency against Terrorists) Тelavi,  2003, pg. 145 (on Georgian)]

Nowadays, Special Services modern Russian Federation are using against the Radical Islamic Movement acting in the North Caucasus republics analog strategy, tactic, methods and ways used by the Russian Imperia and Soviet Special services. On the other hand, officers of the Soviet Special Services “were growing” on the examples of terrorist past of Bolsheviks and left-wing Essers(Socialist-Revolutionist party) – co-workers of Cheka (the first Soviet Special Service). On the one hand, Cheka took tactic, methods and ways in the fight against Anti Soviet Secret Organizations from the Secret (Political) Police of Russian Federation; and on the other hand, from the experience of revolutionary and terrorist organizations acting in the Russian Empire.

Russian Empire Secret (Political) Police “Okhranka” was actively using the Secret Agents in its activity. It is obvious that the most important for Tsarist Russian secret police were the Agents, who were enrolled in Revolutionary Parties and Terrorist Organizations. Part of the Secret Agents “was grown” by an officer of the Secret Police, or they were taught the ways for collecting information, also other skills necessary for the Secret Agent’s activity and then sent them in Revolutionary or Terrorist Organizations. The other part consisted of the Agents, who were won over with different ways and methods from Revolutionary Organizations.

Activity of “Okhranka” Agents was especially “improved” during the Revolution in 1905-1907 years. At that time strategy and tactic of usage of Tsarist Russian Secret Police Agents passed several stages for development.

From them particularly interesting is tactic for the Secret Agents’ hierarchic promotion and then managing Terrorist or Revolutionary organizations through the Agent leaded to the organization, used since 1907 by Russian Secret Police. According to the special circular sent in October 1907 by Russian Empire Police Department, local “Okhranka” department leaders were obliged – “to use transitional state and promote Secret Coworkers (Agents) towards the center of the organization.” [Central Historical Archive of Georgia(CHAG), F.153, DES.1,  C.98,  pg.44(on Russian)] The Secret Agents were given right to participate in terrorist acts performed by the organization against senior coworkers of police in order to gain confidence in Revolutionary and Terrorist Organizations leaders. [П. Курлов, ,,Конец Русского Царизма”, Москва, 1923, с.5, (on Russian)] Thus, Russian Empire Secret Police, according to the Revolutionary Organizations, in order to manage political actions in the country, even haven’t spared its own coworkers. Even more, the Secret Agents often performed different types of commissions, which caused tension, conflicts between different political parties, performed disconnection role between the parties and different types of provocative actions. Accordingly, on the other hand, in order to promote the Secret Agents in Revolutionary and Terrorist Organizations, the persons who obstructed agents in their activities, were arrested or destroyed physically. In return for, the persons who were in a good relationship with agents were remained untouchable. They were arrested only in special cases. Thus, on the one hand, in order to increase agent’s authority and on the other hand, to strengthen his/her influence, local bodies of the secret police supported to agents in hierarchic promotion with every way.

By using this tactic, the Secret Police could activate Revolutionary and terrorist Organizations, or vice versa, weakening activity. It already meant spreading control not only on the activities of the Revolutionary Organizations, but on the management of political process in the country as well. [Б. Николаевский, ,,История одного предателя``, Москва, 1991, с. 168, (on Russian)]

History of arresting “Military Emir” – “Magas” (Ali Musaevich Taziev) of Radical Islamic Movement, so called “Caucasus Emirate” gives us opportunity to make a good parallel between the activities of the Russian Empire Secret Police and modern Russian Federation Special Services. He was arrested in June 2010 by the Russian Special Services. To their mind, “Magas” was one of the commanders of the 2004 Nazran raid [Вынесен приговор по делу о нападениинаИнгушетию(http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/russia/2011/02/110202_ingushetia_attack_verdict.shtml); Нападение на Бесланорганизовал "героически погибший" в 1998 году милиционер (http://www.newsinfo.ru/articles/2004-09-08/item/525231/)], organizer of terrorist act performed on Ingushetia President Yunus-bek Yevkurov in June 2009 and many other crimes. [Кафирыобъявили, что захватили в плен военного амира Магаса, 09.06.2010http://kavkazcenter.com/russ/content/2010/06/09/73037.shtml] After “Magas” capture alive, Russian Special Services started active destroying of Terrorist Organizations leaders having the Radical Islamic ideological base and acting in the North Caucasus. [Террористов бомбили по наводке Магаса, http://www.utro.ru/articles/2011/04/01/966376.shtml] Thus, interrogation of one of the leaders “Magas” of the Radical Islamic Movement acting in the North Caucasus Republics gave quite lot information on terrorist underground to Russian Special Services. Just this person's arrest is related to the spreading the information on a new tactic used by the secret police in the North Caucasus by the Russian Special Services.

Namely, in 2009 and especially in 2010 years, local “Jamaat” of the Radical Islamic Movement acting in the North Caucasus Republics, actively started deliberate destruction of the representatives of power structures of the authority. Different kinds of terrorist acts – explosions, armed attacks, burning houses and other actions, were basically directed against the coworkers of power structures – militiamen (now policemen). For example, local “Jamaat” acting on the territory of the North Caucasus Republics, Dagestan and Ingushetia, used snipers’ attacks on militiamen as the form of the terrorist act. So, many militiamen were killed in attacks performed from cover-shelter, mainly in different places of the towns, settlements, without any hesitation by a good sniper. [Дагестан: милиционеров уничтожать, простых людей не трогать http://www.izvestia.ru/news/352827] After some time, such kind of attacks on militiamen was stopped suddenly.

For example, in Ingushetia, as it turned out to be, such kind of secret attacks on militiamen was performed by one of the local “Jammat” member. Soon he was hierarchically promoted and became “Jamaat” leader – Emir. After some time he was killed in the village of Surkhakhi of Nazran district, Ingushetia. As it clears out, he was killed by “Jamaat” members. Just the motive of this murder performed by the members of the Radical Islamic Organizations is quite interesting for us.

One of the Web Sites, supporting to the Radical Islamic Movement in the North Caucasus, published their statement, from where we clear out, that according to their point of view, Emir of above mentioned “Jamaat” was Russian Federation Special Service Agent (I don’t name this person’s name because of ethical reasons. Interested reader can search this statement on directed Web Site. [Командование ингушских моджахедов сообщило о разоблачении и ликвидации предателя, сдавшего амира Магаса, 07.07.2010, http://kavkazcenter.com/russ/content/2010/07/07/73638.shtml])

According to the materials of the named Web Site, two years earlier he was “sent” as a Secret Agent to one of the “Jamaat” acting on the territory of Ingushetia by Russian Special Services. In order to achieve hierarchically high post in the organization and justify the confidence of “Jamaat” members, this person as a sniper, began attacks on militiamen. However, he killed only ordinary militiamen. Such kind of terrorist activity assisted him in order to gain a big authority and accordingly, confidence among “Jamaat” members. It is clear from the statement published by the Radical Islamic Movement acting on the territory of Ingushetia, that time to time he was delivering information on mentioned “Jamaat” Emirs. Or, he was giving their addresses, car numbers to the correspondent Special Services of Russian Federation. “Jamaat” Emirs were arrested or killed one by another. In fact, with such action, he got rid of the “competitors” and just in result of this he became the leader of “Jamaat”. [Командование ингушских моджахедов сообщило о разоблачении и ликвидации предателя, сдавшего амира Магаса, 07.07.2010,http://kavkazcenter.com/russ/content/2010/07/07/73638.shtml]

It is interesting, that as it clears out, on the one hand “Jamaat” members received information on the agents “sent” to them from the representatives of Russian Special Services. According to this information, this secret agent as a leader of “Jamaat” was necessary for Russian Special Services in order to commit other greater “provocation.” Namely, he should kill local figures, followers of Traditional Islam in the district of “Jamaat” actions. Presumably, such action would cause controversy between the population following Traditional Islam and the representatives of the Radical Islamic Movements, and it might be followed by civil war in Ingushetia. In that way, if we trust to this information, we’ll clearly see reanimation of tactic for managing agents by modern Russian Special Services and used in past by Tsarist Russia Secret Police.

We shall say hereby, that sources, related with local Special Services of Russian Federation, officially refuse existence of such fact. [Лицемерие ингушских бандитов, 08.07.2010, http://kavkazcenter.blog.ru/?year=2010&month=07&day=8] Despite of this, to my mind, just the fact that above mentioned history repeats the tactic for using and managing agents by Tsarist Russia Secret Police, confirms correctness of this information.

In recent period, a wide usage of the Secret Agents by modern Russian Federation Special Services is confirmed by several other facts. At the end of April 2011, on the basis of the Secret Agent’s information, armed subunits of Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Federal District of the North Caucasus, laid siege to one of the abandoned village school in Stavropol district and killed leaders of the Radical Islamic Movement and their co-fighters on the territory of Kabardino-Balkar Republic. According to the informational source of Russian Special Services, they had a meeting for discussing future plans and plan terrorist acts. [Главаря боевиков Кабардино-Балкарии уничтожили в школе, 29.04.2011,http://www.utro.ru/articles/2011/04/29/972161.shtml] At the same period, on the basis of the secret agent’s information as well, performed liquidation of one of the leaders of the radical Islamic movement in Dagestan. [Уничтоженные в Ставрополье боевики собирались обсудить будущие теракты, http://www.utro.ru/news/2011/04/29/972280.shtml]

Thus, as we see, studying and analyzing the history of Russian Special Services is necessary and inevitable - everything new is well forgotten old.