Anzor Astemirov

Anzor Eldarovich Astemirov (Russian: Анзор Эльдарович Астемиров; December 3, 1976 – March 24, 2010), also known as Emir Sayfullah (Sword of God) or Abu Imran was an Islamist leader in the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, in the North Caucasus. For several years, Astemirov headed the local terrorist group Kabardino-Balkarian Jamaat, eventually becoming the main ideologist of the pan-Islamist militant organization Caucasus Emirate, as well as its wali (governor) of Kabardino-Balkaria. His key position as the Emirate's chief Sharia Islamic law qadi (judge) made him the third in Caucasian insurgent hierarchy, after Dokka Umarov and his military deputy Akhmed Yevloyev. The law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation put him on federal and international wanted lists for murder, terrorist attacks, armed trafficking and several other crimes and offered a reward of 3 million rubles ($117,354) for information that would lead to his capture. He was killed in a gunfight with Russian security forces in March 2010.