Aslan Maskhadov speaking at a conference in Washington, DC in August of 1998.

He was credited by many with the Chechen victory in the First Chechen War, which allowed for the establishment of the independent Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. He was elected third President of Chechnya by a free democratic presidential election under the aegis of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) and observers from representatives of more than 20 countries, as well as the United Nations. By popular support, Maskhadov introduced Islamic law in February of 1999.

Less than a month after Maskhadov announced a cease-fire with Russia, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) agents carried out a special operation and murdered Aslan Maskhadov in the village of Tolstoy-Yurt, Groznensky district.

According to one unconfirmed report, the Chechen President was deliberately killed after being lured into talks with the Russian side which were to take place with the mediation of a number of foreign countries.

Aslan Khalid Aliyevich Maskhadov was martyred on March 8, 2005… al Fatiha

A follow up speech is also included which is very important to watch.