Islamic Djamaat of Dagestan

Islamic Djamaat of Dagestan
Кадарская зона / Отдельная исламская территория
LeadersBagaudtin Kebedov
Ibn al-Khattab
Dates of operation1998 – 1999
HeadquartersKadar, Russia
Active regionsDagestan
IdeologyWahhabism
Islamic fundamentalism
Opponents Russia
Battles and warsWar in Dagestan

The Islamic Djamaat of Dagestan, known in Russia as the Kadar zone (Russian: Кадарская зона), was an Islamist political entity in the Buynaksky District of Dagestan consisting of the fortified villages of Kadar, Karamakhi and Chabanmakhi. In the late 1990s, the Djamaat, heavily influenced by militant Wahhabism, declared independence and ejected Dagestani officials from the area. After a series of armed conflicts with Dagestani police and local moderate Muslims, the Djamaat broke off from government control. Sharia law was introduced in the villages, the Russian Constitution was declared void and an alliance was signed with Chechen forces with the aim of establishing an Independent Islamic Republic in the Caucasus.

Chechnya-based militants led by warlords Shamil Basayev and Ibn al-Khattab launched an armed invasion of Dagestan in the autumn of 1999. While the invasion was resisted by Dagestani civilians and Russian troops, a retributive military attack was launched against the Djamaat. In the ensuing fighting, the three villages were destroyed and the Djamaat's militants left the area on 15 September 1999.