Editing Akhmed Zakayev (section)

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===

Akhmed Zakayev was born in the settlement of Kirovskiy, Kirovskiy Raion (today called [[Balpyk Bi]], [[Koksu District]]), in the [[Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic|Kazakh SSR]], [[Soviet Union]], which is now in [[Almaty Region]], in [[Kazakhstan]]; his family was deported by [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]]'s regime along with the rest of the Chechens in 1944. Akhmed is from the [[teip]] [[Chinkhoy]]. He graduated from [[acting]] and [[choreography]] schools in [[Voronezh]] and Moscow and worked as an actor at a theatre in the Chechen capital [[Grozny]], specializing in [[William Shakespeare|Shakespearean]] roles. From 1991, he was the chairman of the Chechen Union of the Theatrical Actors. In 1994, Zakayev became a [[Minister of Culture]] in the Chechen separatist government of [[Dzhokhar Dudayev]].

=== Chechen wars and the interwar period ===

After Russian forces entered Chechnya, starting the [[First Chechen War]], Zakayev left his job and took up arms. Serving at first as a minor commander in the unit of [[Ruslan Gelayev]], he took part in the [[battle of Grozny (1994–1995)|1995 battle of Grozny]] and then led the defence of the village of [[Goyskoye]]. After this the armed group under his command operated in the south-west part of Chechnya with its headquarters in the town of [[Urus-Martan]]. He was eventually promoted to the rank of [[brigadier general]] and appointed commander of the [[Urus-Martanovsky District|Urus-Martan Front]]. In February 1996, Zakayev became commander of the entire Western Group of Defense of Ichkeria. In August 1996, his forces took part in the [[Battle of Grozny (August 1996)|decisive raid on Grozny]],<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/14/world/risky-walk-in-rebel-held-chechen-capital.html?pagewanted=all Risky Walk in Rebel-Held Chechen Capital] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727115648/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/14/world/risky-walk-in-rebel-held-chechen-capital.html?pagewanted=all |date=27 July 2018 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', 14 August 1996</ref> where he personally led the attack on the city's central [[railway station]].<ref>[http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=8727 Moscow Gives More Evidence On Zakayev] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301121359/http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=8727 |date=1 March 2014 }}, ''[[The St. Petersburg Times (Russia)|The St. Petersburg Times]]'', 3 December 2002</ref> Zakayev's war service paved his way to Chechen high politics. He became the [[acting president]] [[Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev]]'s advisor for the security matters and the secretary of the Chechen [[Security Council]] and represented Chechnya at the [[Khasav-Yurt Accord|peace talks in Khasav-Yurt]], which brought a peaceful end to the first armed conflict between Moscow and Grozny.

After the war, Zakayev became Chechen [[Deputy Prime Minister]] (in charge of education and culture) and a special envoy of elected [[President of Ichkeria]] [[Aslan Maskhadov]] for relations with Moscow, taking part in the delegation that signed the official Chechen-Russian peace treaty at [[the Kremlin]] in 1997.<ref>[http://www.rferl.org/content/Article/1076423.html Chechnya: The Turning Point That Wasn't], [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|RFE/RL]], 11 May 2007  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823204828/http://www.rferl.org/content/Article/1076423.html |date=23 August 2015 }}</ref> During the interwar period, he opposed the rise of radical Islam in Chechnya and co-authored a book entitled ''[[Wahhabism]] – the Kremlin's remedy against national liberation movements'', alleging an association between [[Islamism|Islamist]] extremism and Soviet global "pro-terrorist" policy and support for dictatorships in the [[Muslim world]]. During the early phases of the [[Second Chechen War]] in 1999–2000, Zakayev commanded Maskhadov's presidential guard; he was also involved in negotiations with [[Russia]]n representatives before and during the resumed hostilities. In 2000, having been wounded in a car accident during [[Battle of Grozny (1999–2000)|the new siege of Grozny]], he left Chechnya for treatment. After this he stayed abroad and became President Maskhadov's most prominent representative in [[Western Europe]], while [[Ilyas Akhmadov]] was the Chechen emissary to the [[United States]].

=== In exile ===

Since January 2002, Zakayev and his immediate family have been residing permanently in the [[United Kingdom]]. On 18 November 2001, Zakayev, officially internationally wanted by Russia, flew from [[Turkey]] to the [[Sheremetyevo International Airport]] near [[Moscow]] to meet the Kremlin's envoy, General [[Viktor Kazantsev]] for the high-level talks since the start of the war.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1662859.stm Moscow opens Chechnya peace talks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112233704/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1662859.stm |date=12 January 2009 }}, [[BBC News]], 18 November 2001</ref><ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-19-mn-5822-story.html Russian, Chechen Rebel Envoy Hold First Talks Since War Began], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 19 November 2001</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/19/world/kremlin-and-rebel-envoys-discuss-peace-for-chechnya.html Kremlin and Rebel Envoys Discuss Peace for Chechnya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727121010/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/19/world/kremlin-and-rebel-envoys-discuss-peace-for-chechnya.html |date=27 July 2018 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', 19 November 2001</ref><ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/11/18/russia.chechnya/index.html Russia opens talks with Chechens] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522185317/http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/11/18/russia.chechnya/index.html |date=22 May 2011 }}, [[CNN]], 19 November 2001</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=5925 Chechnya Peace Talks Get Under Way] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301121404/http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=5925 |date=1 March 2014 }}, ''[[The St. Petersburg Times (Russia)|The St. Petersburg Times]]'', 20 November 2001</ref> These negotiations were fruitless because Kazantsev demanded a complete [[capitulation (surrender)|capitulation]] of the Chechen side, with the only acceptable topic for the Russian side being the disarmament of Chechen separatists and their re-integration into civilian life.<ref>[http://www.watchdog.cz/?show=000000-000004-000001-000024&lang=1 Long negotiations with unclear results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501213933/http://www.watchdog.cz/?show=000000-000004-000001-000024&lang=1|date=1 May 2009}}, Prague Watchdog, 16 November 2001</ref> On 18 July 2002, Zakayev also met with the former secretary of [[Security Council of Russia]] [[Ivan Rybkin]] in [[Zürich]], [[Switzerland]].<ref>[http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/88/353/11763_election.html Prominent Candidates for Russia's Presidency] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051223122117/http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/88/353/11763_election.html |date=23 December 2005 }}, ''[[Pravda]]'', 12 December 2004</ref>

In October 2002, Zakayev organized the [[World Chechen Congress]] in [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]] (which was attended among others by the former first speaker of the [[State Duma]], [[Ruslan Khasbulatov]]). During the congress, Zakayev was accused by [[Russia]] of involvement in planning of the [[Moscow theater hostage crisis]]. He was detained there on 30 October 2002, under an [[Interpol]] warrant filed by Russia, which named him a suspect in the theater siege.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,386954-1,00.html Russian to the Core] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501190947/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,386954-1,00.html |date=1 May 2009 }}, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', 3 November 2002</ref><ref name="dissident">[[Alexander Goldfarb (author)|Alex Goldfarb]] and Marina Litvinenko. "[[Death of a Dissident|Death of a Dissident: The Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the Return of the KGB.]]" Free Press, New York, 2007. {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5165-2}}.</ref> Zakayev denied involvement in the theater capture. He was held in Denmark for five weeks and then released due to lack of [[evidence]], as Russia's formal [[extradition]] request did not include any evidence linking him to the siege.<ref name="dissident"/><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2391629.stm Russia pushes for Chechen extradition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813044448/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2391629.stm |date=13 August 2008 }}, [[BBC News]], 2 November 2002</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2539567.stm Denmark frees top Chechen envoy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904045255/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2539567.stm |date=4 September 2008 }}, [[BBC News]], 3 December 2002</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=8633 Zakayev Evidence On Shaky Ground] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727204358/http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=8633 |date=27 July 2014 }}, ''[[The St. Petersburg Times (Russia)|The St. Petersburg Times]]'', 19 November 2002</ref>

On 7 December 2002, Zakayev returned to the UK but the British authorities arrested him briefly at [[London Heathrow Airport]]; he was released on 50,000 [[Pound sterling|GBP]] [[bail]], which was paid by British actress [[Vanessa Redgrave]], his friend who had travelled with him from Denmark. He was accused by Russian authorities of 13 criminal acts.<ref name="bbc_accused"/> Zakayev welcomed the British [[deportation]] hearings as an opportunity to put his case before an international public.<ref>[http://www.iwpr.net/index.php?apc_state=hen&s=o&o=p=crs&l=EN&s=f&o=161633 Zakayev Welcomes Deportation Trial], [[Institute for War and Peace Reporting]], 21 February 2003</ref> All accusations were proven to be false.<ref name="dissident"/> One accusation, cutting fingers of a suspected FSB informer Ivan Solovyov, was based on a written testimony by Zakayev's former bodyguard, Duk-Vakha Dushuyev, provided by Russian authorities; however, it appeared that Solovyev had lost his fingers much earlier to [[frostbite]]. Dushuyev himself has escaped from Russia and then in his statement claimed that he was tortured at a Russian army base with [[Electric shock torture|electric shocks]] to extort the [[false testimony]] to be used against Zakayev.<ref name="dissident"/><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/key-witness-in-chechen-extradition-case-was-tortured-587935.html Key witness in Chechen extradition case 'was tortured'], ''[[The Independent]]'', 25 July 2003 {{Dead link|date=May 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/3112905.stm Evidence gathered by torture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112104747/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/3112905.stm |date=12 January 2009 }}, [[BBC News]], 31 July 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=10890 Kadyrov Accused of Intimidation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508031531/http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=10890 |date=8 May 2014 }}, ''[[The St. Petersburg Times (Russia)|The St. Petersburg Times]]'', 9 September 2003</ref> In another accusation, Father Sergei, one of two [[Russian Orthodox Church]] priests allegedly murdered by Zakayev, turned out to be in fact still alive. The witness [[Reverend]] Filipp, allegedly kidnapped by Zakayev in 1996, also refuted his supposed testimony and even denounced Russian authorities for "implicating the Church in politics". Leading Russian [[human rights]] activist [[Sergei Kovalev]] told the court Zakayev would be at risk of death in Russian captivity (Kovalev spoke about two high-profile Chechen prisoners, field commanders [[Salman Raduyev]] and [[Turpal-Ali Atgeriyev]], who died soon after being jailed in Russia, and of another, parliamentary speaker [[Ruslan Alikhadzhiyev]], who has "disappeared" without trace after his arrest in 2000).<ref name=mrY/> According to [[Alexander Goldfarb (microbiologist)|Alexander Goldfarb]], one of the defence's most important arguments was the 2001 meeting between Zakayev and General Kazantsev, since this meeting took place when the Chechen envoy had already been put by Russia on the international wanted list. At the time of the meeting Kremlin's [[spokesman]] on Chechnya [[Sergei Yastrzhembsky]] said on television that Russian government had no grievances against Zakayev.<ref name="mrY">[http://www.gazeta.ru/2003/07/01/Zakayevsaved.shtml Zakayev saved by Mr Y] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605073018/http://www.gazeta.ru/2003/07/01/Zakayevsaved.shtml |date=5 June 2011 }}, [[Gazeta.Ru]], 2003/07/01</ref> Therefore, on 13 November 2003, [[Judge]] [[Timothy Workman]] rejected the Russian request, deciding that it was politically motivated and that Zakayev would be at risk of [[torture]] in the case of "unjust and oppressive" extradition.<ref name="autogenerated2003"/><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/chechnya/Story/0,2763,1084153,00.html Judge rejects bid to extradite Chechen rebel leader], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 13 November 2003</ref><ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E5DF1538F937A25752C1A9659C8B63&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FSubjects%2FK%2FKidnapping Russia Loses Fight Over Chechen's Extradition], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 29 November 2008</ref> The judge also said the crimes which involved Zakayev allegedly using armed force against combatants were not extraditable because they took place in the situation of [[civil war|internal armed conflict]].<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/11/14/nzakay14.xml Chechen rebel defeats Putin's extradition plea] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041118184600/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F11%2F14%2Fnzakay14.xml |date=18 November 2004 }}, ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', 13 November 2003</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/russian-request-to-extradite-chechen-exile-is-turned-down-735679.html Russian request to extradite Chechen exile is turned down]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''[[The Independent]]'', 14 November 2003</ref> Russian authorities in turn responded by accusing the court of double standards.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3269385.stm UK accused of hypocrisy on terror] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208113850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3269385.stm |date=8 December 2008 }}, [[BBC News]], 13 November 2003</ref> On 29 November 2003, it was announced that Zakayev had been granted political asylum in the UK.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3249474.stm Chechen envoy granted UK asylum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206092838/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3249474.stm |date=6 December 2003 }}, [[BBC News]], 9 November 2003</ref>

After receiving [[political asylum]] in Britain in 2003, Zakayev made [[London]] his permanent residence, and he visited several countries (including [[France]], [[Germany]] and [[Poland]]) without being arrested. During the September 2004 [[Beslan school hostage crisis]], Zakayev consented to the request of the civilian negotiators and authorities of [[North Ossetia–Alania]] to fly to Russia to negotiate with the hostage takers. However, the siege ended in bloody confusion just a few hours before this could happen.<ref>[http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/09/06/014.html Zakayev Was Asked to Assist in Negotiations at the School]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070327155019/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/09/06/014.html |date=27 March 2007 }}, ''[[The Moscow Times]]'', 6 September 2004.</ref><ref>[http://www.jamestown.org/chechnya_weekly/article.php?articleid=2372350 New Details Emerge on Maskhadov's Bid to Mediate in Beslan], [[The Jamestown Foundation]], 6 January 2006  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223150104/http://www.jamestown.org/chechnya_weekly/article.php?articleid=2372350 |date=23 February 2008 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,695816,00.html Communication Breakdown] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501201032/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,695816,00.html |date=1 May 2009 }}, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', 12 September 2004</ref> As an envoy of Maskhadov, he also met in London with the representatives of the [[Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia]] in February 2005, where they agreed on a peace proposal centred around a gradual cessation of violence by rebels corresponding with the three-week ceasefire unilaterally declared by Maskhadov (who once again called for [[President of Russia]] [[Vladimir Putin]] to negotiate). These efforts were ignored by the Russian government and Maskhadov himself was soon killed in Chechnya.

On 31 October 2007, Zakayev officially distanced himself from the newly resigned Chechen separatist leader [[Doku Umarov]] and the Chechen Islamist [[ideologist]] [[Movladi Udugov]], who together had declared the creation of [[Caucasus Emirate]] in the place of abolished ChRI. In response, Zakayev called for the remnants of the separatist parliament to form the new government and salvage legitimacy.<ref>[http://www.chechenpress.co.uk/english/news/2007/10/31/05.shtml Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728061523/http://www.chechenpress.co.uk/english/news/2007/10/31/05.shtml |date=28 July 2011 }}, [[Chechenpress]], 31 October 2007</ref> Soon after, on 20 November 2007, Zakayev submitted his resignation from the post of foreign minister, but said this should not be viewed as a departure from "the fight for our independence, our freedom, and for the recognition of our state".<ref>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/11/3b1b6b92-be6a-4358-afdb-faafd3dd64a4.html Foreign Minister Of Chechen Separatist Government Resigns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211214410/http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/11/3b1b6b92-be6a-4358-afdb-faafd3dd64a4.html |date=11 December 2007 }}, [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|RFE/RL]], 20 November 2007</ref> He subsequently assumed the position of prime minister of the exile government.<ref name="caucasuswatch" /> In September 2008, Ramzan Kadyrov said he was now trying to persuade Chechens refugees and exiles to return, including Akhmed Zakayev, whom Kadyrov described as "a valuable artist who would be welcome to return to help revive Chechnya's [[cultural heritage]]."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7609557.stm US 'provoked Russia-Georgia war'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914020641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7609557.stm |date=14 September 2008 }}, [[BBC News]], 10 September 2008</ref> Zakayev and [[Alla Dudayeva]], the widow of the first Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev, accused Udugov of being a paid [[agent provocateur]] for the Russia's [[Federal Security Service (Russia)|FSB]].<ref>[http://www.rferl.org/content/Article/1079059.html Russia: Is North Caucasus Resistance Still Serious Threat?], [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|RFE/RL]], 1 November 2007  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825012912/http://www.rferl.org/content/Article/1079059.html |date=25 August 2015 }}</ref>

In London, Zakayev became friends with the Russian dissident and former FSB officer [[Alexander Litvinenko]], later [[Alexander Litvinenko poisoning|murdered by radioactive poisoning]] in November 2006;<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/08/npoison108.xml Litvinenko laid to rest in historic Highgate]{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', 08/12/2006</ref> Zakayev accused the Russian President Putin of ordering the death of Litvinenko. In 2007, British police warned Zakayev that there was an increased threat to his personal security shortly before the alleged attempt to kill Berezovsky by the FSB-connected Chechen gangster [[Movladi Atlangeriyev]] (or "Mr A").<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/jul/22/russia.world Police feared assassination for two Russian dissidents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202104007/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/jul/22/russia.world |date=2 February 2017 }}, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 22 July 2007</ref> According to the [[KGB]] [[defection|defector]] [[Oleg Gordievsky]] in 2008, Zakayev was placed #2 on the FSB [[assassination]] list, between Berezovsky and Litvinenko.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} In January 2008, Zakayev's name showed up on the purported hit list of Ramzan Kadyrov's enemies abroad to be killed, which was published on the [[Internet]] following the murder of the Chechen dissident [[Umar Israilov]] (a former bodyguard of Kadyrov who was shot dead after receiving asylum in [[Austria]]).<ref>[https://archive.today/20121216013041/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24961179-2703,00.html Slain exile's family warns of death list], ''[[The Australian]]'', 26 January 2009  {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Zakayev was arrested by the Polish police during his visit to Poland on 17 September 2010.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11339630 Chechen separatist leader Zakayev 'arrested' in Poland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103022146/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11339630 |date=3 January 2016 }}, [[BBC News]], 17 September 2010</ref> He was released the same day.

In 2021, Zakayev expressed his condolences to the friends and relatives of the killed head of "[[Islamic State – Caucasus Province]]", [[Aslan Byutukayev]], calling him and his followers "best of the best representatives of our people", a statement that met criticism from Ramzan Kadyrov.<ref>[https://www.svoboda.org/a/31061969.html Рамзан Кадыров пригрозил посадить в подвал или убить Ахмеда Закаева] {{in lang|ru}}</ref>

In September 2021, Zakayev released a statement on behalf of the Chechen government-in-exile regarding the [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|Fall of Kabul]] and the conquest of Afghanistan by the [[Taliban]]. According to researcher Aslan Doukaev, the statement was "cautious", as it voiced concerns over "possible violations of fundamental human rights" and urged the Taliban to not abuse their power, pointing out that [[Muhammad]] had also behaved mercifully upon [[Conquest of Mecca|conquering Mecca]]. Doukaev contrasted Zakayev's wording with much more enthusiastic comments made by Islamist Chechen separatists.{{sfn|Doukaev|2021}}

===Increased activism amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine===
In 2022, Russia launched a [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|full invasion of Ukraine]]. At this point, several anti-Kadyrov Chechen militant groups like the [[Dzhokhar Dudayev Battalion]] and the [[Sheikh Mansur Battalion]] were already fighting for Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 March 2022 |title='My MMA Gym Will Be Empty': Chechens Head to Ukraine to Fight Kadyrov|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/chechnya-fighters-ukraine-russia-ramzan-kadyrov/|author-last=Prothero |author-first=Mitchell |access-date=7 March 2022 |work=[[Vice Media]]}}</ref><ref name="theglobeandmail">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-chechens-and-georgians-in-ukraine-preparing-to-continue-fight-against/|title=Chechens and Georgians in Ukraine preparing to continue fight against Putin on a new front|website=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=13 February 2022|access-date=7 March 2022|last1=MacKinnon|first1=Mark}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/03/jihadis-idlib-bash-chechen-leader-ramzan-kadyrov-role-ukraine-war|title = Jihadis in Idlib bash Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov for role in Ukraine war - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East|work=[[Al-Monitor]]|date=6 March 2022|accessdate=27 March 2022}}</ref> In May 2022, Zakayev travelled to Kyiv and met with Ukrainian officials for "confidential" talks.<ref name="caucasuswatch">{{Cite web |title=Leader of unrecognised Ichkeria met with officials in Ukraine |url=https://caucasuswatch.de/news/5435.html |website=Caucasus Watch |date=30 May 2022 |access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref> Later, the creation of the "[[Separate Special Purpose Battalion]] of the Chechen Republic's Armed Forces" was announced by Zakayev; this unit officially styled itself as the continuation of the Armed Forces of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. A fourth separatist unit, called "Khamzat Gelayev Joint Task Detachment" was also founded. As the Russo-Ukrainian War continued to escalate, the pro-Ukrainian Chechen separatists increasingly framed the war as a chance to restore the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chechen Fighters in Ukraine Set Sights on Homeland |url=https://jamestown.org/program/chechen-fighters-in-ukraine-set-sights-on-homeland/ |website=Jamestown Foundation |access-date=25 September 2022 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913141808/https://jamestown.org/program/chechen-fighters-in-ukraine-set-sights-on-homeland/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://uacrisis.org/en/ukraine-in-flames-162|title=Chechen batallions in Ukraine: Common fight against Russia|publisher=Ukraine Сrisis Media Center|date=19 August 2022}}</ref> On 18 October 2022, [[Verkhovna Rada|Ukraine's parliament]] recognized the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria as "temporarily occupied" state.<ref name="yahoo">{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/ukraine-recognizes-chechen-republic-ichkeria-154900042.html|title=Ukraine recognizes the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria|website=news.yahoo.com}}</ref><ref name="reuters">{{Cite web |title=Ukraine lawmakers brand Chechnya 'Russian-occupied' in dig at Kremlin |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-lawmakers-brand-chechnya-russian-occupied-dig-kremlin-2022-10-18/ |website=Reuters |date=18 October 2022 |access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref> Zakayev had lobbied in support of this resolution.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chechen Republic Representatives Call on Ukraine to Recognize Independence |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/chechen-republic-representatives-call-on-ukraine-to-recognize-independence.html |website=Kyiv Post |date=14 October 2022 |access-date=18 October 2022}}</ref>

In November 2023, the "[[Congress of the Peoples of the North Caucasus]]" (a political alliance of various northern Caucasus separatist groups) appointed Zakayev the head of its Defense Commission alongside Akhmad Akhmedov, Sheikh Mansur Battalion deputy commander. The Congress aims at coordinating the different separatist exiles to unite their efforts against Russia.{{sfn|Doukaev|2023}}