Kremlin146;s man in Chechnya

Born in 1954 in Central Asia, Kadyrov studied at a series of Islamic colleges and became Mufti, or religious leader of Chechnya in 1996, two years after Russia sent in troops to snuff out Chechnya8217;s independence struggle. That year, he became a negotiator on the Chechen side in peace talks that ended the war. Chechnya gained a three-year period of de facto independence, but Kadyrov turned against his comrades, as he disagreed with their adoption of militant Islam. 8216;8216;Russia gave us everything that is Chechnya, saying do with it what you will, but we did not use it properly,8217;8217; he had said when asked why he changed sides.

Rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov subsequently called for his assassination. Kadyrov claimed to have contacts with a few Chechen rebel warlords, but refused to negotiate peace terms with Maskhadov whom he called a terrorist. 8216;8216;There can be talks with Maskhadov, with only one purpose 8212; that he leaves the republic,8217;8217; Kadyrov had said. 8216;8216;If he wants to do something for his people, he should sacrifice himself.8217;8217;