CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" class="no-js"> <head> <link href="/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/RFE-en-US.css?&av=0.0.0.0&cb=355" rel="stylesheet"/> <script src="//tags.rferl.org/rferl-pangea/prod/utag.sync.js"></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.youtube.com/iframe_api' async></script> <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json"> <script type="text/javascript"> //a general 'js' detection, must be on top level in <head>, due to CSS performance document.documentElement.className = "js"; var cacheBuster = "355"; var appBaseUrl = "/"; var imgEnhancerBreakpoints = [0, 144, 256, 408, 650, 1023, 1597, 2114]; var isLoggingEnabled = false; var isPreviewPage = false; var isLivePreviewPage = false; if (!isPreviewPage) { window.RFE = window.RFE || {}; window.RFE.cacheEnabledByParam = window.location.href.indexOf('nocache=1') === -1; const url = new URL(window.location.href); const params = new URLSearchParams(url.search); // Remove the 'nocache' parameter params.delete('nocache'); // Update the URL without the 'nocache' parameter url.search = params.toString(); window.history.replaceState(null, '', url.toString()); } else { window.addEventListener('load', function() { const links = window.document.links; for (let i = 0; i < links.length; i++) { links[i].href = '#'; links[i].target = '_self'; } }) } var pwaEnabled = true; var swCacheDisabled; </script> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <title>Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed</title> <meta name="description" content="The Kabardino-Balkaria-Karachai (KBK) wing of the North Caucasus insurgency has confirmed that the fighter killed two days ago in a special operation in Nalchik was Alim Zankishiyev (nom de guerre Ubaydullakh). He is the third KBK sector commander to be killed in the past two years, and the third regional insurgency commander to be killed so far this year." /> <meta name="keywords" content="Russia, North Caucasus, Caucasus Report, Blogs" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" /> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="AFF83BB0F77ADA2BD47CD50D350DBDC7" /> <meta name="robots" content="max-snippet:-1"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"> <link href="https://www.rferl.org/a/kabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed/24531617.html" rel="canonical" /> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="RFE/RL" /> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black" /> <meta name="apple-itunes-app" content="app-id=475986784, app-argument=//24531617.ltr" /> <meta content="Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed" property="og:title" /> <meta content="The Kabardino-Balkaria-Karachai (KBK) wing of the North Caucasus insurgency has confirmed that the fighter killed two days ago in a special operation in Nalchik was Alim Zankishiyev (nom de guerre Ubaydullakh). He is the third KBK sector commander to be killed in the past two years, and the third regional insurgency commander to be killed so far this year." property="og:description" /> <meta content="article" property="og:type" /> <meta content="https://www.rferl.org/a/kabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed/24531617.html" property="og:url" /> <meta content="RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty" property="og:site_name" /> <meta content="https://www.facebook.com/rferl" property="article:publisher" /> <meta content="https://gdb.rferl.org/bd3c1147-32c4-41ef-a6f3-bb3f7fb6f30f_w1200_r1.jpg" property="og:image" /> <meta content="1200" property="og:image:width" /> <meta content="675" property="og:image:height" /> <meta content="953446944667626" property="fb:app_id" /> <meta content="summary_large_image" name="twitter:card" /> <meta content="@RFERL" name="twitter:site" /> <meta content="https://gdb.rferl.org/bd3c1147-32c4-41ef-a6f3-bb3f7fb6f30f_w1200_r1.jpg" name="twitter:image" /> <meta content="Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed" name="twitter:title" /> <meta content="The Kabardino-Balkaria-Karachai (KBK) wing of the North Caucasus insurgency has confirmed that the fighter killed two days ago in a special operation in Nalchik was Alim Zankishiyev (nom de guerre Ubaydullakh). He is the third KBK sector commander to be killed in the past two years, and the third regional insurgency commander to be killed so far this year." name="twitter:description" /> <link rel="amphtml" href="https://www.rferl.org/amp/kabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed/24531617.html" /> <script type="application/ld+json">{"articleSection":"Caucasus Report","headline":"Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed","inLanguage":"en-US","keywords":"Russia, North Caucasus, Caucasus Report, Blogs","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"RFE/RL"},"datePublished":"2012-03-29 16:08:13Z","dateModified":"2012-03-30 06:22:14Z","publisher":{"logo":{"width":512,"height":220,"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png"},"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","url":"https://www.rferl.org","sameAs":["https://facebook.com/rferl","https://twitter.com/RFERL","https://www.youtube.com/user/rferlonline","https://www.instagram.com/rfe.rl/"],"name":"RFE/RL","alternateName":""},"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https://www.rferl.org/a/kabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed/24531617.html","url":"https://www.rferl.org/a/kabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed/24531617.html","description":"The Kabardino-Balkaria-Karachai (KBK) wing of the North Caucasus insurgency has confirmed that the fighter killed two days ago in a special operation in Nalchik was Alim Zankishiyev (nom de guerre Ubaydullakh). He is the third KBK sector commander to be killed in the past two years, and the third regional insurgency commander to be killed so far this year.","image":{"width":1080,"height":608,"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://gdb.rferl.org/bd3c1147-32c4-41ef-a6f3-bb3f7fb6f30f_w1080_h608.jpg"},"name":"Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed"}</script> <script src="/Scripts/responsive/infographics.b?v=dVbZ-Cza7s4UoO3BqYSZdbxQZVF4BOLP5EfYDs4kqEo1&av=0.0.0.0&cb=355"></script> <script src="/Scripts/responsive/loader.b?v=Bzk1lJollSaSdMG8faEYmBcRW3nwgjp4PP07hXX7UMk1&av=0.0.0.0&cb=355"></script> <link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml" href="/Content/responsive/RFE/img/webApp/favicon.svg" /> <link rel="alternate icon" href="/Content/responsive/RFE/img/webApp/favicon.ico" /> <link rel="mask-icon" color="#ea6903" href="/Content/responsive/RFE/img/webApp/favicon_safari.svg" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/Content/responsive/RFE/img/webApp/ico-152x152.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144" href="/Content/responsive/RFE/img/webApp/ico-144x144.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="114x114" href="/Content/responsive/RFE/img/webApp/ico-114x114.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72" href="/Content/responsive/RFE/img/webApp/ico-72x72.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="/Content/responsive/RFE/img/webApp/ico-57x57.png" /> <link rel="icon" sizes="192x192" href="/Content/responsive/RFE/img/webApp/ico-192x192.png" /> <link rel="icon" sizes="128x128" href="/Content/responsive/RFE/img/webApp/ico-128x128.png" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffffff" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="/Content/responsive/RFE/img/webApp/ico-144x144.png" /> <link rel="preload" href="/Content/responsive/fonts/Merriweather-Light_v2.woff" type="font/woff" as="font" crossorigin="anonymous" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RFE/RL - Top Stories [RSS]" href="/api/" /> <link rel="sitemap" type="application/rss+xml" href="/sitemap.xml" /> </head> <body class=" nav-no-loaded cc_theme pg-article print-lay-article js-category-to-nav nojs-images "> <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-WXZBPZ" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" data-cookiecategory="analytics"> if (top.location === self.location) { //if not inside of an IFrame var renderGtm = "true"; if (renderGtm === "true") { (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-WXZBPZ'); } } </script>  <script type="text/javascript" data-cookiecategory="analytics"> var utag_data={entity:"RFE",cms_release:"8.38.0.0.355",language:"English",language_service:"RFERL English",short_language_service:"ENG",property_id:"420",platform:"web",platform_short:"W",runs_js:"Yes",page_title:"Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed",page_type:"blog",page_name:"Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed",content_type:"article",subcontent_type:"blog",enviro_type:"prod",url:"https://www.rferl.org/a/kabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed/24531617.html",domain:"www.rferl.org",pub_year:"2012",pub_month:"03",pub_day:"29",pub_hour:"16",pub_weekday:"Thursday",byline:"",categories:"russia,north_caucasus,caucasus_report,blogs",slug:"kabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed",section:"caucasus report",english_section:"caucasus_report",article_uid:"24531617"}; if(typeof(TealiumTagFrom)==='function' && typeof(TealiumTagSearchKeyword)==='function') { var utag_from=TealiumTagFrom();var utag_searchKeyword=TealiumTagSearchKeyword(); if(utag_searchKeyword!=null && utag_searchKeyword!=='' && utag_data["search_keyword"]==null) utag_data["search_keyword"]=utag_searchKeyword;if(utag_from!=null && utag_from!=='') utag_data["from"]=TealiumTagFrom();} if(window.top!== window.self&&utag_data.page_type==="snippet"){utag_data.page_type = 'iframe';} try{if(window.top!==window.self&&window.self.location.hostname===window.top.location.hostname){utag_data.platform = 'self-embed';utag_data.platform_short = 'se';}}catch(e){if(window.top!==window.self&&window.self.location.search.includes("platformType=self-embed")){utag_data.platform = 'cross-promo';utag_data.platform_short = 'cp';}} (function(a,b,c,d){ a="https://tags.rferl.org/rferl-pangea/prod/utag.js"; b=document;c="script";d=b.createElement(c);d.src=a;d.type="text/java"+c;d.async=true; a=b.getElementsByTagName(c)[0];a.parentNode.insertBefore(d,a); })(); </script>   <noscript> <img style="position: absolute; border: none;" src="https://ssc.rferl.org/b/ss/bbgprod,bbgentityrferl/1/G.4--NS/143640407?pageName=rfe%3aeng%3aw%3ablog%3akabardino-balkaria%20insurgency%20commander%20killed&c6=kabardino-balkaria%20insurgency%20commander%20killed&v36=8.38.0.0.355&v6=D=c6&g=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rferl.org%2fa%2fkabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed%2f24531617.html&c1=D=g&v1=D=g&events=event1,event52&c16=rferl%20english&v16=D=c16&c5=caucasus_report&v5=D=c5&ch=caucasus%20report&c15=english&v15=D=c15&c4=article&v4=D=c4&c14=24531617&v14=D=c14&v20=no&c17=web&v17=D=c17&mcorgid=518abc7455e462b97f000101%40adobeorg&server=www.rferl.org&pageType=D=c4&ns=bbg&v29=D=server&v25=rfe&v30=420&v105=D=User-Agent " alt="analytics" width="1" height="1" /></noscript>   <section> <div class="sr-only"> <h2>Accessibility links</h2> <ul> <li><a href="#content" data-disable-smooth-scroll="1">Skip to main content</a></li> <li><a href="#navigation" data-disable-smooth-scroll="1">Skip to main Navigation</a></li> <li><a href="#txtHeaderSearch" data-disable-smooth-scroll="1">Skip to Search</a></li> </ul> </div> </section> <div dir="ltr"> <div id="page"> <aside> <div class="c-lightbox overlay-modal"> <div class="c-lightbox__intro"> <h2 class="c-lightbox__intro-title"></h2> <button class="btn btn--rounded c-lightbox__btn c-lightbox__intro-next" title="Next"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-chevron-forward"></span> <span class="sr-only">Next</span> </button> </div> <div class="c-lightbox__nav"> <button class="btn btn--rounded c-lightbox__btn c-lightbox__btn--close" title="Close"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-close"></span> <span class="sr-only">Close</span> </button> <button class="btn btn--rounded c-lightbox__btn c-lightbox__btn--prev" title="Previous"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-chevron-backward"></span> <span class="sr-only">Previous</span> </button> <button class="btn btn--rounded c-lightbox__btn c-lightbox__btn--next" title="Next"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-chevron-forward"></span> <span class="sr-only">Next</span> </button> </div> <div class="c-lightbox__content-wrap"> <figure class="c-lightbox__content"> <span class="c-spinner c-spinner--lightbox"> <img src="/Content/responsive/img/player-spinner.png" alt="please wait" title="please wait" /> </span> <div class="c-lightbox__img"> <div class="thumb"> <img src="" alt="" /> </div> </div> <figcaption> <div class="c-lightbox__info c-lightbox__info--foot"> <span class="c-lightbox__counter"></span> <span class="caption c-lightbox__caption"></span> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="hidden"> <div class="content-advisory__box content-advisory__box--lightbox"> <span class="content-advisory__box-text">This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing.</span> <button class="btn btn--transparent content-advisory__box-btn m-t-md" value="text" type="button"> <span class="btn__text"> Click to reveal </span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="print-dialogue"> <div class="container"> <h3 class="print-dialogue__title section-head">Print Options:</h3> <div class="print-dialogue__opts"> <ul class="print-dialogue__opt-group"> <li class="form__group form__group--checkbox"> <input class="form__check " id="checkboxImages" name="checkboxImages" type="checkbox" checked="checked" /> <label for="checkboxImages" class="form__label m-t-md">Images</label> </li> <li class="form__group form__group--checkbox"> <input class="form__check " id="checkboxMultimedia" name="checkboxMultimedia" type="checkbox" checked="checked" /> <label for="checkboxMultimedia" class="form__label m-t-md">Multimedia</label> </li> </ul> <ul class="print-dialogue__opt-group"> <li class="form__group form__group--checkbox"> <input class="form__check " id="checkboxEmbedded" name="checkboxEmbedded" type="checkbox" checked="checked" /> <label for="checkboxEmbedded" class="form__label m-t-md">Embedded Content</label> </li> <li class="form__group form__group--checkbox"> <input class="form__check " id="checkboxComments" name="checkboxComments" type="checkbox" /> <label for="checkboxComments" class="form__label m-t-md">Comments</label> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="print-dialogue__buttons"> <button class="btn btn--secondary close-button" type="button" title="Cancel"> <span class="btn__text ">Cancel</span> </button> <button class="btn btn-cust-print m-l-sm" type="button" title="Print"> <span class="btn__text ">Print</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ctc-message pos-fix"> <div class="ctc-message__inner">Link has been copied to clipboard</div> </div> </aside> <div class="hdr-20 hdr-20--big"> <div class="hdr-20__inner"> <div class="hdr-20__max pos-rel"> <div class="hdr-20__side hdr-20__side--primary d-flex"> <label data-for="main-menu-ctrl" data-switcher-trigger="true" data-switch-target="main-menu-ctrl" class="burger hdr-trigger pos-rel trans-trigger" data-trans-evt="click" data-trans-id="menu"> <span class="ico ico-close hdr-trigger__ico hdr-trigger__ico--close burger__ico burger__ico--close"></span> <span class="ico ico-menu hdr-trigger__ico hdr-trigger__ico--open burger__ico burger__ico--open"></span> <span class="burger__label">MORE</span> </label> <div class="menu-pnl pos-fix trans-target" data-switch-target="main-menu-ctrl" data-trans-id="menu"> <div class="menu-pnl__inner"> <nav class="main-nav menu-pnl__item menu-pnl__item--first"> <ul class="main-nav__list accordeon" data-analytics-tales="false" data-promo-name="link" data-location-name="nav,secnav"> <li class="main-nav__item"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link" href="https://www.rferl.org/a/32843501.html" title="To Readers In Russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">To Readers In Russia</a> </li> <li class="main-nav__item accordeon__item" data-switch-target="menu-item-749"> <label class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--label accordeon__control-label" data-switcher-trigger="true" data-for="menu-item-749"> Russia <span class="ico ico-chevron-down main-nav__chev"></span> </label> <div class="main-nav__sub-list"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Russia" title="Russia" data-item-name="russia-responsive" >Russia</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/TatarstanBashkortostan" title="Tatar-Bashkir" data-item-name="tat-bash-responsive" >Tatar-Bashkir</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/NorthCaucasus" title="North Caucasus" data-item-name="north-caucasus-responsive" >North Caucasus</a> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav__item"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link" href="/Farda-English" title="Iran" data-item-name="farda" >Iran</a> </li> <li class="main-nav__item accordeon__item" data-switch-target="menu-item-751"> <label class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--label accordeon__control-label" data-switcher-trigger="true" data-for="menu-item-751"> Central Asia <span class="ico ico-chevron-down main-nav__chev"></span> </label> <div class="main-nav__sub-list"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Kazakhstan" title="Kazakhstan" data-item-name="kazakhstan-responsive" >Kazakhstan</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Kyrgyzstan" title="Kyrgyzstan" data-item-name="kyrgyzstan----responsive" >Kyrgyzstan</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Tajikistan" title="Tajikistan" data-item-name="tajikistan-responsive" >Tajikistan</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Turkmenistan" title="Turkmenistan" data-item-name="turkmenistan-responsive" >Turkmenistan</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Uzbekistan" title="Uzbekistan" data-item-name="uzbekistan-responsive" >Uzbekistan</a> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav__item accordeon__item" data-switch-target="menu-item-753"> <label class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--label accordeon__control-label" data-switcher-trigger="true" data-for="menu-item-753"> South Asia <span class="ico ico-chevron-down main-nav__chev"></span> </label> <div class="main-nav__sub-list"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Azadi-English" title="Afghanistan" data-item-name="radio-azadi" >Afghanistan</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Radio-Mashaal" title="Pakistan" data-item-name="radio-mashaal" >Pakistan</a> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav__item accordeon__item" data-switch-target="menu-item-752"> <label class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--label accordeon__control-label" data-switcher-trigger="true" data-for="menu-item-752"> Caucasus <span class="ico ico-chevron-down main-nav__chev"></span> </label> <div class="main-nav__sub-list"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Armenia" title="Armenia" data-item-name="armenia-responsive" >Armenia</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan" data-item-name="azerbaijan-responsive" >Azerbaijan</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Georgia" title="Georgia" data-item-name="georgia----responsive" >Georgia</a> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav__item accordeon__item" data-switch-target="menu-item-754"> <label class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--label accordeon__control-label" data-switcher-trigger="true" data-for="menu-item-754"> Central/SE Europe <span class="ico ico-chevron-down main-nav__chev"></span> </label> <div class="main-nav__sub-list"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/BosniaHerzegovina" title="Bosnia" data-item-name="bosnia-responsive" >Bosnia</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Bulgaria" title="Bulgaria" data-item-name="bulgaria" >Bulgaria</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/p/7745.html" title="Hungary" data-item-name="hungary" >Hungary</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Kosovo" title="Kosovo" data-item-name="kosovo-responsive" >Kosovo</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Moldova" title="Moldova" data-item-name="moldova-r" >Moldova</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Montenegro" title="Montenegro" data-item-name="montenegro-responsive" >Montenegro</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/p/6360.html" title="North Macedonia" data-item-name="north-macedonia-responsive" >North Macedonia</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Romania" title="Romania" data-item-name="romania" >Romania</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Serbia" title="Serbia" data-item-name="serbia-responsive" >Serbia</a> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav__item accordeon__item" data-switch-target="menu-item-755"> <label class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--label accordeon__control-label" data-switcher-trigger="true" data-for="menu-item-755"> East Europe <span class="ico ico-chevron-down main-nav__chev"></span> </label> <div class="main-nav__sub-list"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Belarus" title="Belarus" data-item-name="belarus-responsive" >Belarus</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Ukraine" title="Ukraine" data-item-name="ukraine" >Ukraine</a> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav__item"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link" href="/Multimedia" title="Visuals" data-item-name="multimedia_new" >Visuals</a> </li> <li class="main-nav__item accordeon__item" data-switch-target="menu-item-3095"> <label class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--label accordeon__control-label" data-switcher-trigger="true" data-for="menu-item-3095"> Investigations <span class="ico ico-chevron-down main-nav__chev"></span> </label> <div class="main-nav__sub-list"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Investigations" title="RFE/RL Investigates" data-item-name="rferl-investigates" >RFE/RL Investigates</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Schemes" title="Schemes" data-item-name="schemes" >Schemes</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/systema-investigating-russia" title="Systema" data-item-name="systema" >Systema</a> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav__item accordeon__item" data-switch-target="menu-item-3078"> <label class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--label accordeon__control-label" data-switcher-trigger="true" data-for="menu-item-3078"> Newsletters <span class="ico ico-chevron-down main-nav__chev"></span> </label> <div class="main-nav__sub-list"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Wider-Europe" title="Wider Europe by Rikard Jozwiak" data-item-name="wider-europe" >Wider Europe by Rikard Jozwiak</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/China-In-Eurasia" title="China In Eurasia by Reid Standish" data-item-name="china-in-eurasia" >China In Eurasia by Reid Standish</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/Farda-Briefing" title="The Farda Briefing" data-item-name="farda-briefing" >The Farda Briefing</a> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/SteveGutterman" title="Steve Gutterman's Week In Russia" data-item-name="week-in-russia" >Steve Gutterman's Week In Russia</a> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav__item accordeon__item" data-switch-target="menu-item-3051"> <label class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--label accordeon__control-label" data-switcher-trigger="true" data-for="menu-item-3051"> Podcasts <span class="ico ico-chevron-down main-nav__chev"></span> </label> <div class="main-nav__sub-list"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link main-nav__item-name--sub" href="/majlis-talking-asia-podcast" title="Majlis" data-item-name="majlis" >Majlis</a> </div> </li> <li class="main-nav__item"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link" href="https://www.currenttime.tv/" title="Current Time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Current Time</a> </li> <li class="main-nav__item"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link" href="https://www.rferl.org/a/32414071.html" title="Share Tips Securely" >Share Tips Securely</a> </li> <li class="main-nav__item"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link" href="https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-censorship-vpn-reporting/31737775.html" title="Bypass Blocking" >Bypass Blocking</a> </li> <li class="main-nav__item"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link" href="https://about.rferl.org/" title="About RFE/RL" target="_blank" rel="noopener">About RFE/RL</a> </li> <li class="main-nav__item"> <a class="main-nav__item-name main-nav__item-name--link" href="https://about.rferl.org/contact-us/" title="Contact Us" >Contact Us</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="menu-pnl__item"> <a href="https://www.rferl.org/newsletters" class="menu-pnl__item-link" alt="Subscribe">Subscribe</a> </div> <div class="menu-pnl__item menu-pnl__item--social"> <h5 class="menu-pnl__sub-head">Follow Us</h5> <a href="https://facebook.com/rferl" title="Follow us on Facebook" data-analytics-text="follow_on_facebook" class="btn btn--rounded btn--social-inverted menu-pnl__btn js-social-btn btn-facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <span class="ico ico-facebook-alt ico--rounded"></span> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RFERL" title="Follow us on Twitter" data-analytics-text="follow_on_twitter" class="btn btn--rounded btn--social-inverted menu-pnl__btn js-social-btn btn-twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <span class="ico ico-twitter ico--rounded"></span> </a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/rferlonline" title="Follow us on YouTube" data-analytics-text="follow_on_youtube" class="btn btn--rounded btn--social-inverted menu-pnl__btn js-social-btn btn-youtube" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <span class="ico ico-youtube ico--rounded"></span> </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rfe.rl/" title="Follow us on Instagram" data-analytics-text="follow_on_instagram" class="btn btn--rounded btn--social-inverted menu-pnl__btn js-social-btn btn-instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <span class="ico ico-instagram ico--rounded"></span> </a> <a href="https://t.me/rferl" title="Follow us on Telegram" data-analytics-text="follow_on_telegram" class="btn btn--rounded btn--social-inverted menu-pnl__btn js-social-btn btn-telegram" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <span class="ico ico-telegram ico--rounded"></span> </a> </div> <div class="menu-pnl__item"> <a href="/navigation/allsites" class="menu-pnl__item-link"> <span class="ico ico-languages "></span> All RFE/RL sites </a> </div> </div> </div> <label data-for="top-search-ctrl" data-switcher-trigger="true" data-switch-target="top-search-ctrl" class="top-srch-trigger hdr-trigger"> <span class="ico ico-close hdr-trigger__ico hdr-trigger__ico--close top-srch-trigger__ico top-srch-trigger__ico--close"></span> <span class="ico ico-search hdr-trigger__ico hdr-trigger__ico--open top-srch-trigger__ico top-srch-trigger__ico--open"></span> </label> <div class="srch-top srch-top--in-header" data-switch-target="top-search-ctrl"> <div class="container"> <form action="/s" class="srch-top__form srch-top__form--in-header" id="form-topSearchHeader" method="get" role="search"><label for="txtHeaderSearch" class="sr-only">Search</label> <input type="text" id="txtHeaderSearch" name="k" placeholder="Search" accesskey="s" value="" class="srch-top__input analyticstag-event" onkeydown="if (event.keyCode === 13) { FireAnalyticsTagEventOnSearch('search', $dom.get('#txtHeaderSearch')[0].value) }" /> <button title="Search" type="submit" class="btn btn--top-srch analyticstag-event" onclick="FireAnalyticsTagEventOnSearch('search', $dom.get('#txtHeaderSearch')[0].value) "> <span class="ico ico-search"></span> </button></form> </div> </div> <a href="/" class="main-logo-link"> <img src="/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo-compact.svg" class="main-logo main-logo--comp" alt="site logo"> <img src="/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.svg" class="main-logo main-logo--big" alt="site logo"> </a> </div> <div class="hdr-20__side hdr-20__side--secondary d-flex"> <a href="/navigation/allsites" title="All RFE/RL websites" class="hdr-20__secondary-item hdr-20__secondary-item--lang" data-item-name="satellite"> All RFE/RL websites </a> <a href="/s" class="hdr-20__secondary-item hdr-20__secondary-item--search" data-item-name="search"> <span class="ico ico-search hdr-20__secondary-icon hdr-20__secondary-icon--search"></span> </a> <div class="srch-bottom"> <form action="/s" class="srch-bottom__form d-flex" id="form-bottomSearch" method="get" role="search"><label for="txtSearch" class="sr-only">Search</label> <input type="search" id="txtSearch" name="k" placeholder="Search" accesskey="s" value="" class="srch-bottom__input analyticstag-event" onkeydown="if (event.keyCode === 13) { FireAnalyticsTagEventOnSearch('search', $dom.get('#txtSearch')[0].value) }" /> <button title="Search" type="submit" class="btn btn--bottom-srch analyticstag-event" onclick="FireAnalyticsTagEventOnSearch('search', $dom.get('#txtSearch')[0].value) "> <span class="ico ico-search"></span> </button></form> </div> </div> <img src="/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo-print.gif" class="logo-print" alt="site logo"> <img src="/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo-print_color.png" class="logo-print logo-print--color" alt="site logo"> </div> </div> </div> <script> var nav2In = document.querySelector('.hdr-20__inner'); var nav2Sec = document.querySelector('.hdr-20__side--secondary') var secStyle = window.getComputedStyle(nav2Sec); if (nav2In && window.pageYOffset < 150 && secStyle['position'] !== 'fixed' && document.body.className.indexOf('pg-section') > -1) { nav2In.classList.add('hdr-20__inner--big') } </script> <div class="c-hlights c-hlights--breaking c-hlights--no-item" data-hlight-display="mobile,desktop"> <div class="c-hlights__wrap container p-0"> <div class="c-hlights__nav"> <a role="button" href="#" title="Previous"> <span class="ico ico-chevron-backward m-0"></span> <span class="sr-only">Previous</span> </a> <a role="button" href="#" title="Next"> <span class="ico ico-chevron-forward m-0"></span> <span class="sr-only">Next</span> </a> </div> <span class="c-hlights__label"> <span class="">Breaking News</span> <span class="switcher-trigger"> <label data-for="more-less-1" data-switcher-trigger="true" class="switcher-trigger__label switcher-trigger__label--more p-b-0" title="Show more"> <span class="ico ico-chevron-down"></span> </label> <label data-for="more-less-1" data-switcher-trigger="true" class="switcher-trigger__label switcher-trigger__label--less p-b-0" title="Show less"> <span class="ico ico-chevron-up"></span> </label> </span> </span> <ul class="c-hlights__items switcher-target" data-switch-target="more-less-1"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="content"> <div class="container"> <div class="hdr-container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-category col-xs-12 col-md-2 pull-left"> <div class="category js-category"> <a class="" href="/z/963">Caucasus Report</a> </div> </div><div class="col-title col-xs-12 col-md-10 pull-right"> <h1 class="title pg-title"> Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed </h1> </div><div class="col-publishing-details col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-2 pull-left"> <div class="publishing-details "> <div class="published"> <span class="date" > <time pubdate="pubdate" datetime="2012-03-29T18:08:13+01:00"> March 29, 2012 18:08 CET </time> </span> </div> </div> </div><div class="col-lg-12 separator"> <div class="separator"> <hr class="title-line" /> </div> </div><div class="col-multimedia col-xs-12 col-md-10 pull-right"> <div class="cover-media"> <figure class="media-image js-media-expand"> <div class="img-wrap"> <div class="thumb thumb16_9"> <img src="https://gdb.rferl.org/bd3c1147-32c4-41ef-a6f3-bb3f7fb6f30f_w250_r1_s.jpg" alt="Security forces surrounded the house where Zankishiyev was holed up early on March 27, and fetched his wife, Madina Sozayeva, who sought unsuccessfully to persuade him to surrender." /> </div> </div> <figcaption> <span class="caption">Security forces surrounded the house where Zankishiyev was holed up early on March 27, and fetched his wife, Madina Sozayeva, who sought unsuccessfully to persuade him to surrender.</span> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><div class="col-xs-12 col-md-2 pull-left article-share pos-rel"> <div class="share--box"> <aside class="share flex-column js-share--apply-sticky js-share--expandable js-share--horizontal"> <span class="label label--share">Share</span> <ul class="share__list"> <li class="share__item"> <a href="https://facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rferl.org%2fa%2fkabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed%2f24531617.html" data-analytics-text="share_on_facebook" title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank" class="btn btn--rounded btn-facebook js-social-btn"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-facebook ico--l"></span> </a> </li> <li class="share__item"> <a href="https://twitter.com/share?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rferl.org%2fa%2fkabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed%2f24531617.html&text=Kabardino-Balkaria+Insurgency+Commander+Killed" data-analytics-text="share_on_twitter" title="Share on Twitter" target="_blank" class="btn btn--rounded btn-twitter js-social-btn"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-twitter ico--l"></span> </a> </li> <li class="share__item share__item--additional"> <a href="https://vkontakte.ru/share.php?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rferl.org%2fa%2fkabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed%2f24531617.html" data-analytics-text="share_on_vkontakte" title="Share on 袙袣芯薪褌邪泻褌械" target="_blank" class="btn btn--rounded btn-vkontakte js-social-btn"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-vkontakte ico--l"></span> </a> </li> <li class="share__item share__item--additional"> <a href="mailto:?body=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rferl.org%2fa%2fkabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed%2f24531617.html&subject=Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed" title="Email to a Friend" class="btn btn--rounded btn-email "> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-email ico--l"></span> </a> </li> <li class="share__item share__item--additional"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rferl.org%2fa%2fkabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed%2f24531617.html&title=Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed" data-analytics-text="share_on_linkedIn" title="Share on LinkedIn" target="_blank" class="btn btn--rounded btn-linkedin js-social-btn"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-linkedin ico--l"></span> </a> </li> <li class="share__item share__item--additional"> <div class="ctc"> <input type="text" class="ctc__input" readonly="readonly"> <button class="btn btn--rounded btn--ctc ctc__button" value="text" role="copy link" js-href="https://www.rferl.org/a/kabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed/24531617.html" title="copy link"> <span class="ico ico-content-copy ico--rounded ico--l"></span> </button> </div> </li> <li class="share__item share__item--sharing-more"> <a title="More options" data-title-additional="Fewer options" class="btn btn--rounded btn--show-more hidden"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-ellipsis ico--l"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </aside> <div class="sticky-share-container" style="display:none"> <div class="container"> <a href="https://www.rferl.org" id="logo-sticky-share"> </a> <div class="pg-title pg-title--sticky-share"> Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed </div> <div class="sticked-nav-actions"> <aside class="share share--sticky js-share--expandable"> <span class="label label--share">share</span> <ul class="share__list"> <li class="share__item share__item--horizontal"> <a href="https://facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rferl.org%2fa%2fkabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed%2f24531617.html" data-analytics-text="share_on_facebook" title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank" class="btn btn--rounded btn-facebook js-social-btn"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-facebook ico--s"></span> </a> </li> <li class="share__item share__item--horizontal"> <a href="https://twitter.com/share?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rferl.org%2fa%2fkabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed%2f24531617.html&text=Kabardino-Balkaria+Insurgency+Commander+Killed" data-analytics-text="share_on_twitter" title="Share on Twitter" target="_blank" class="btn btn--rounded btn-twitter js-social-btn"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-twitter ico--s"></span> </a> </li> <li class="share__item share__item--horizontal"> <a href="https://vkontakte.ru/share.php?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rferl.org%2fa%2fkabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed%2f24531617.html" data-analytics-text="share_on_vkontakte" title="Share on 袙袣芯薪褌邪泻褌械" target="_blank" class="btn btn--rounded btn-vkontakte js-social-btn"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-vkontakte ico--s"></span> </a> </li> <li class="share__item share__item--additional share__item--horizontal"> <a href="mailto:?body=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rferl.org%2fa%2fkabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed%2f24531617.html&subject=Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed" title="Email to a Friend" class="btn btn--rounded btn-email "> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-email ico--s"></span> </a> </li> <li class="share__item share__item--additional share__item--horizontal"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.rferl.org%2fa%2fkabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed%2f24531617.html&title=Kabardino-Balkaria Insurgency Commander Killed" data-analytics-text="share_on_linkedIn" title="Share on LinkedIn" target="_blank" class="btn btn--rounded btn-linkedin js-social-btn"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-linkedin ico--s"></span> </a> </li> <li class="share__item share__item--additional share__item--horizontal"> <div class="ctc"> <input type="text" class="ctc__input" readonly="readonly"> <button class="btn btn--rounded btn--ctc ctc__button" value="text" role="copy link" js-href="https://www.rferl.org/a/kabardino-balkaria_insurgency_commander_killed/24531617.html" title="copy link"> <span class="ico ico-content-copy ico--rounded ico--s"></span> </button> </div> </li> <li class="share__item share__item--sharing-more"> <a title="More options" data-title-additional="Fewer options" class="btn btn--rounded btn--show-more hidden"> <span class="ico ico--rounded ico-ellipsis ico--s"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </aside> </div> </div> </div> <div class="links"> <p class="link-print visible-md visible-lg buttons p-0"> <button class="btn btn--link btn-print p-t-0" onclick="if (typeof FireAnalyticsTagEvent === 'function') {FireAnalyticsTagEvent({ on_page_event: 'print_story' });}return false" title="(CTRL+P)"> <span class="ico ico-print"></span> <span class="btn__text">Print</span> </button> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="body-container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-10 col-lg-10 pull-right"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-8 col-lg-8 pull-left bottom-offset content-offset"> <div id="article-content" class="content-floated-wrap fb-quotable"> <div class="wsw"> The Kabardino-Balkaria-Karachai (KBK) wing of the North Caucasus insurgency has confirmed that the fighter <strong><a class="wsw__a" href="http://www.islamdin.biz/2012/03/blog-post_1411.html" target="_blank">killed two days ago in a special operation</a></strong> in Nalchik was Alim Zankishiyev (nom de guerre Ubaydullakh). He is the third KBK sector commander to be killed in the past two years, and the third regional insurgency commander to be killed so far this year.<br /> <br /> Ingushetia's Emir Adam was killed in late January, and Daghestan front commander Ibragimkhalil Daudov (Emir Salikh) two weeks later.<br /> <br /> Security forces surrounded the house where Zankishiyev was holed up early on March 27, and fetched his wife, Madina Sozayeva, who sought unsuccessfully to persuade him to surrender. From the <strong><a class="wsw__a" href="http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1902120" target="_blank">contradictory media reports</a></strong>, it is not clear whether Zankishiyev was killed when he detonated a grenade that apparently set the building ablaze, or shot by security personnel.<br /> <br /> Zankishiyev was born in March 1982 in the village of Verkhnyaya Zhemtala in the southern Cherek district. He was a Balkar, like Asker Dzhappuyev (aka Abdullakh), whom he succeeded as emir. His name was entered on the federal wanted list in 2006, which suggests he may have been one of the surviving participants of the ill-fated multiple attacks on police and security facilities in Nalchik in October 2005.<br /> <br /> Zankishiyev is believed to have participated in the killing in November 2007 of a group of hunters, and may have been Dzhappuyev鈥榮 accomplice in the killing in January 2008 of senior Kabardino-Balkaria <strong><a class="wsw__a" href="/a/1144030.html" target="_blank">Interior Ministry official Anatoly Kyarov</a></strong>. Dzhappuyev himself is on record as saying he and two other fighters killed Kyarov, but he <strong><a class="wsw__a" href="http://www.kavkazcenter.com/russ/content/2008/02/27/56621.shtml" target="_blank">did not name them</a></strong>.<br /> <br /> Self-styled Caucasus Emirate head Doku Umarov <strong><a class="wsw__a" href="http://www.kavkazcenter.com/russ/content/2011/09/13/85145.shtml" target="_blank">named Zankishiyev last September</a></strong> to replace Dzhappuyev, who was killed in April 2011 with <strong><a class="wsw__a" href="/a/16797920.html" target="_blank">nine other insurgents and support personnel</a></strong> after the wife of one of them betrayed their whereabouts to the security forces.<br /> <br /> Zankishiyev in turn appointed five younger fighters to <strong><a class="wsw__a" href="/a/24388125.html" target="_blank">command the various sectors</a></strong>. Whether one of them will be named to succeed him is not clear; an alternative possible candidate is the Kabardian Hadzhi-Murat Bekov, who in late 2010 was already one of Umarov's inner circle.<br /> <br /> The large number of successful special operations against fighters in Kabardino-Balkaria and Daghestan can partly be <strong><a class="wsw__a" href="/a/24176439.html" target="_blank">attributed to informers</a></strong>. But the fighters would not run the risk of detection and betrayal if they remained in the mountains, the way their Chechen brothers in arms do, rather than head for the republican capitals. Umarov, the most-wanted man in Russia, has after all successfully avoided capture for years.<br /> <br /> The fact that the security personnel were reportedly <strong><a class="wsw__a" href="http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/203770/" target="_blank">almost certain from the start</a></strong> of the operation that the man they had trapped was Zankishiyev suggests that they may have intercepted calls from his mobile phone and identified him from a voice print. Again, senior Chechen commanders avoid the use of mobile phones precisely because of the security risks involved.<br /> <br /> It is conceivable that the fighters in Kabardino-Balkaria do not have at their disposal such an extensive network of bases and foxholes as do the Chechens -- especially after the sealing in the fall of 2010 of all known entrances to the molybdenum mine at Tyrnyauz that reportedly served them as a hiding place. But that does not excuse elementary security violations such as Dzhappuyev and two of his most senior deputies spending the night under the same roof. </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-4 col-lg-4 pull-left design-top-offset"> <div class="region"> <div class="media-block-wrap" id="wrowblock-2137_21" data-area-id=R1_1> <h2 class="section-head"> About This Blog </h2> <div class="wsw"> <div class="clear"></div> <div class="wsw__embed"> <div class="infgraphicsAttach" style='width:100%;height:10px;'> <script type="text/javascript"> initInfographics( { groups:[], params:[], isMobile:true }); </script> <style> /* main css */ #one_col_blog_ban{ height: 100px; width: 100%; float:left; margin-bottom: 20px; } #one_col_blog_ban .banner-blog{ background-color: transparent; height: 100px; width: 100%; background-color: #282828; position: relative; background-image: url(//gdb.rferl.org/2810D414-6838-4EEF-94E8-6586653993BA.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; } #one_col_blog_ban .banner-wrapper{ display: table; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; width: 100%; position: absolute; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.4); } #one_col_blog_ban .banner-text{ display:table-cell; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; margin: 0 auto; } #one_col_blog_ban .font-2{ display: block; line-height: 1; font-weight: normal; font-size: 30px; text-decoration: none; text-align:left; color: #fff; } /* Media */ @media screen and (max-width:350px){ #one_col_blog_ban .font-2{ text-decoration: none; } } @media screen and (max-width:395px) { #one_col_blog_ban .font-2{ font-size: 30px; text-align: center; } } @media screen and (max-width:2000px){ #one_col_blog_ban .font-2{ text-align: center; } } </style> <a id="one_col_blog_ban"> <div class="banner-blog"> <div class="banner-wrapper"> <div class="banner-text"> <span class="font-2" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"> <span>Caucasus</span> Report </span> </div> </div> </div> </a> </div> </div> <p /> <p>This blog presents analyst Liz Fuller's personal take on events in the region, following on from her work in the <strong><a class="wsw__a" href="/z/865" target="_blank">"RFE/RL Caucasus Report."</a> </strong>It also aims, to borrow a metaphor from Tom de Waal, to act as a smoke detector, focusing attention on potential conflict situations and crises throughout the region. The views are the author's own and do not represent those of RFE/RL.</p><div class="clear"></div> <div class="wsw__embed"> <div class="infgraphicsAttach" style='width:100%;height:10px;'> <script type="text/javascript"> initInfographics( { groups:[], params:[], isMobile:true }); </script> <p class="buttons"> <a href="http://www.rferl.mobi/subscribe.html" target="_blank" class="btn" style="padding: 10px 20px;"><i class="ico ico-envelope"></i>Subscribe</a> </p> </div> </div> <p /> </div> </div> <div class="media-block-wrap" id="wrowblock-2138_21" data-area-id=R2_1> <h2 class="section-head"> Latest Posts </h2> <div class="row"> <ul> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer role="contentinfo"> <div id="foot" class="foot"> <div class="container"> <div class="foot-nav collapsed" id="foot-nav"> <div class="menu"> <ul class="items"> <li class="socials block-socials"> <span class="handler" id="socials-handler"> Follow Us </span> <div class="inner"> <ul class="subitems follow"> <li> <a href="https://facebook.com/rferl" title="Follow us on Facebook" data-analytics-text="follow_on_facebook" class="btn btn--rounded js-social-btn btn-facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <span class="ico ico-facebook-alt ico--rounded"></span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://twitter.com/RFERL" title="Follow us on Twitter" data-analytics-text="follow_on_twitter" class="btn btn--rounded js-social-btn btn-twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <span class="ico ico-twitter ico--rounded"></span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/rferlonline" title="Follow us on YouTube" data-analytics-text="follow_on_youtube" class="btn btn--rounded js-social-btn btn-youtube" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <span class="ico ico-youtube ico--rounded"></span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rfe.rl/" title="Follow us on Instagram" data-analytics-text="follow_on_instagram" class="btn btn--rounded js-social-btn btn-instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <span class="ico ico-instagram ico--rounded"></span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/rssfeeds" title="RSS" data-analytics-text="follow_on_rss" class="btn btn--rounded js-social-btn btn-rss" > <span class="ico ico-rss ico--rounded"></span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/podcasts" title="Podcasts" data-analytics-text="follow_on_podcast" class="btn btn--rounded js-social-btn btn-podcast" > <span class="ico ico-podcast ico--rounded"></span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="/newsletters" title="Subscribe" data-analytics-text="follow_on_subscribe" class="btn btn--rounded js-social-btn btn-email" > <span class="ico ico-email ico--rounded"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="block-primary collapsed collapsible item"> <span class="handler"> Quick Hits <span title="close tab" class="ico ico-chevron-up"></span> <span title="open tab" class="ico ico-chevron-down"></span> <span title="add" class="ico ico-plus"></span> <span title="remove" class="ico ico-minus"></span> </span> <div class="inner"> <ul class="subitems"> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="https://about.rferl.org/" title="About RFE/RL" >About RFE/RL</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="https://pressroom.rferl.org/reaching-audiences/where-we-work/" title="Where We Work" >Where We Work</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="https://about.rferl.org/use-our-content/" title="Terms Of Use" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Terms Of Use</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="https://www.rferl.mobi/jobs.html" title="Jobs and Internships" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jobs and Internships</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="https://www.usagm.gov/" title="U.S. Agency For Global Media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Agency For Global Media</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="https://www.rferl.org/p/6466.html" title="Legal And Reporting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Legal And Reporting</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="https://www.rferl.org/navigation/allsites" title="All RFE/RL Sites" >All RFE/RL Sites</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="https://about.rferl.org/contact-us/" title="Contact Us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> <li class="block-primary collapsed collapsible item"> <span class="handler"> Browse <span title="close tab" class="ico ico-chevron-up"></span> <span title="open tab" class="ico ico-chevron-down"></span> <span title="add" class="ico ico-plus"></span> <span title="remove" class="ico ico-minus"></span> </span> <div class="inner"> <ul class="subitems"> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="/LatestNews" title="News" >News</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="https://www.rferl.org/Features" title="Features" >Features</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="/Blogs" title="Newsletters" >Newsletters</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="/Multimedia" title="Multimedia" >Multimedia</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="/podcasts-in-english" title="Podcasts" >Podcasts</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="/QishloqOvozi" title="Qishloq Ovozi (January 2014-March 2022)" >Qishloq Ovozi (January 2014-March 2022)</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="/Newsline" title="RFE/RL Newsline (Jan 2000-May 2008)" >RFE/RL Newsline (Jan 2000-May 2008)</a> </li> <li class="subitem"> <a class="handler" href="/Analytical-Reports" title="Analytical Reports (Jan 2000-June 2008)" >Analytical Reports (Jan 2000-June 2008)</a> </li> </ul> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="foot__item foot__item--copyrights"> <p class="copyright">Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty © 2025 RFE/RL, Inc. All Rights Reserved. </p> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> </div> <script src="https://cdn.onesignal.com/sdks/web/v16/OneSignalSDK.page.js" defer></script> <script> if (!isPreviewPage) { window.OneSignalDeferred = window.OneSignalDeferred || []; OneSignalDeferred.push(function(OneSignal) { OneSignal.init({ appId: "dcba9732-9d59-46ec-aea0-e487e980e249", }); }); } </script> <script defer src="/Scripts/responsive/serviceWorkerInstall.js?cb=355"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> // opera mini - disable ico font if (navigator.userAgent.match(/Opera Mini/i)) { document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0].className += " can-not-ff"; } // mobile browsers test if (typeof RFE !== 'undefined' && RFE.isMobile) { if (RFE.isMobile.any()) { document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0].className += " is-mobile"; } else { document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0].className += " is-not-mobile"; } } </script> <script src="/conf.js?x=355" type="text/javascript"></script> <div class="responsive-indicator"> <div class="visible-xs-block">XS</div> <div class="visible-sm-block">SM</div> <div class="visible-md-block">MD</div> <div class="visible-lg-block">LG</div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var bar_data = { "apiId": "24531617", "apiType": "1", "isEmbedded": "0", "culture": "en-US", "cookieName": "cmsLoggedIn", "cookieDomain": "www.rferl.org" }; </script> <div id="scriptLoaderTarget" style="display:none;contain:strict;"></div> </body> </html>