Overview

Abdul Hakim al-Shishani is a Chechen commander and former leader of Ajnad al-Kavkaz (Soldiers of the Caucasus or AK). AK is a Chechen militant group based in the forests of Latakia, Syria, and was one of three groups—including Junud al-Sham (Soldiers of Syria) and the much smaller Tarkhan’s Jamaat—fighting against Russian forces in the North Caucasus.Joanna Paraszczuk, Why Russian Propaganda Links Chechen Militants, IS, And Assad's Coastal Stronghold,” Radio Free Europe, September 14, 2015, https://www.rferl.org/a/why-russia-propaganda-links-chechens-is-latakia/27248094.html. As of October 2022, al-Shishani is serving as the deputy of the Chechen government-in-exile and has joined the ranks of Chechen militants in Ukraine’s fight against Russian forces.“Notorious Chechen commander leaves Syria and joins Ukrainian army to fight Russia,” France 24, January 9, 2023, https://www.france24.com/en/video/20230109-notorious-chechen-commander-leaves-syria-and-joins-ukrainian-army-to-fight-russia.

Al-Shishani previously served in the Chechen-Russian war in the 1990s. According to media sources, al-Shishani joined the Chechen resistance in 1999, after which he quickly rose throughout the ranks. By 2007, he became the commander of the central front for the separatist state of Ichkeria.Robert Coalson, “Coming Apart At The Seams? For Russia's Ethnic Minorities, Ukraine War Is A Chance To Press For Independence From Moscow,” Radio Free Europe, January 5, 2023, https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ethnic-minorities-independence-ukraine-war/32210542.html. After being severely wounded fighting in Chechnya in 2009, al-Shishani eventually left Russia for Turkey.Aslan Doukaev, “Is Chechnya’s leader a ticking time-bomb for Russian-Turkish relations?,” Middle East Institute, August 19, 2022, https://www.mei.edu/publications/chechnyas-leader-ticking-time-bomb-russian-turkish-relations. Upon leaving for Turkey, al-Shishani made a formal break from the Caucasus Emirate, a quasi-state organization established in 2006 that abandoned the fight for Chechnya’s independence in favor of establishing a pan-Caucasian Islamic state. Aslan Doukaev, “Ukraine’s and Chechnya’s Veteran Anti-Russian Movements Signal Mutual Support,” Jamestown Foundation, November 1, 2022, https://jamestown.org/program/ukraines-and-chechnyas-veteran-anti-russian-movements-signal-mutual-support/. Although al-Shishani never pledged allegiance to the Caucasus Emirate, media sources reported he claimed he would fight alongside the group if he were to return to Chechnya. Joanna Paraszczuk, Why Russian Propaganda Links Chechen Militants, IS, And Assad's Coastal Stronghold,” Radio Free Europe, September 14, 2015, https://www.rferl.org/a/why-russia-propaganda-links-chechens-is-latakia/27248094.html.

In late 2012, al-Shishani joined other Chechen separatist fighters in Syria who were battling the Bashar al-Assad regime.Robert Coalson, “Coming Apart At The Seams? For Russia's Ethnic Minorities, Ukraine War Is A Chance To Press For Independence From Moscow,” Radio Free Europe, January 5, 2023, https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ethnic-minorities-independence-ukraine-war/32210542.html. Eventually, al-Shishani became the commander of AK, a group that originally operated under the command of the Syrian Islamist faction Ansar al-Sham. By 2014, AK boasted a troop size estimated between 100 to 200 and often operated within broader operations rooms that included hardline groups such as al-Nusra Front and the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP).Mairbek Vatchagaev, “Is Moscow Set to Target Russians Fighting Against Assad in Syria?,” October 1, 2015, https://jamestown.org/program/is-moscow-set-to-target-russians-fighting-against-assad-in-syria-2/. AK has managed to maintain largely good relations with most rebel factions in the northwest, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), but unlike other Chechen groups has never had a relationship with ISIS.Joanna Paraszuk, “Interview & Letter from Ajnad al-Kavkaz Amir Abdul Hakim Shishani,” From Chechnya to Syria, February 24, 2017, http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=25309. AK operated primarily in the Idlib and Latakia provinces which were areas also occupied by HTS, a powerful rebel group that sought to exert its control throughout northwestern Syria. Given HTS’s dominance, AK faced pressure to join HTS rather than remain neutral. At some point around 2017, al-Shishani relocated back to Turkey. Aslan Doukaev, “Ukraine’s and Chechnya’s Veteran Anti-Russian Movements Signal Mutual Support,” Jamestown Foundation, November 1, 2022, https://jamestown.org/program/ukraines-and-chechnyas-veteran-anti-russian-movements-signal-mutual-support/.

Al-Shishani remained under the radar until November 2, 2021, when the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT) arrested a hit squad plotting to assassinate a Chechen dissident. Al-Shishani was allegedly the target of the assassination plot, but government and media sources did not confirm the claim. The group of six assassins were reportedly associated with Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic and close ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Exposed spies aimed to kill Chechen opponent in Turkey,” Middle East Monitor, November 2, 2021, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211102-exposed-spies-aimed-to-kill-chechen-opponent-in-turkey/; Aslan Doukaev, “Ukraine’s and Chechnya’s Veteran Anti-Russian Movements Signal Mutual Support,” Jamestown Foundation, November 1, 2022, https://jamestown.org/program/ukraines-and-chechnyas-veteran-anti-russian-movements-signal-mutual-support/. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, al-Shishani joined the Chechen separatists fighting against Moscow in Ukraine. According to a Russian-language Telegram channel al-Shishani has reportedly been in Ukraine since October 2022.“Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Weekly: October 15-22, 2022,” The Middle East Media Research Institute, October 20, 2022, https://www.memri.org/reports/jihad-and-terrorism-threat-monitor-jttm-weekly-october-15-22-2022. Other scholars on the region claimed al-Shishani arrived in Ukraine with an entourage of skilled lieutenants. Additionally, it is reported that al-Shishani was appointed the deputy leader of the Chechen government-in-exile. Among his responsibilities are overseeing the Chechen forces fighting alongside the Ukrainian army.Aslan Doukaev, “Ukraine’s and Chechnya’s Veteran Anti-Russian Movements Signal Mutual Support,” Jamestown Foundation, November 1, 2022, https://jamestown.org/program/ukraines-and-chechnyas-veteran-anti-russian-movements-signal-mutual-support/.