Doku Zavgaev
Encyclopedia
Doku Gapurovich Zavgayev ' onMouseout='HidePop("47960")' href="/topics/Chechnya">Chechnya
) is the former Soviet
leader of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
.
of the autonomous republic
since the Chechens' return in 1957.
In August 1991 Zavgayev, the Communist leader of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR, publicly expressed his support for the failed Moscow putsch
against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev
.
Taking advantage of the Soviet Union's implosion, Dzhokhar Dudayev and his supporters acted against the Zavgayev's administration. On September 6, 1991, militant
s of the All-National Congress of Chechen People (NCChP), headed by Dudayev, stormed a session of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR Supreme Soviet
, killing the Soviet Communist Party chief for Grozny, Vitali Kutsenko, severely injuring several other Soviet members, and effectively dissolving the government
of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR. Zavgayev, the Chairman of the Soviet, was not present and was able to flee the republic, publicly announcing that he would return.
, Boris Yeltsin
and the heads of the "force ministries" that Russia
should actively intervene in Chechnya, where he became appointed pro-Moscow head of state on October 24, 1995, and elected in December in a dubious circumstances.
On December 8, 1995, Zavgayev and Viktor Chernomyrdin
signed an agreement as a basis for a Russian-Chechen federation treaty which would give Chechnya broad autonomy along the lines of the between Russia and Tatarstan
, and which also incorporated the main points of Ruslan Khasbulatov
's earlier proposal.
in Tanzania
. Currently he is Deputy Foreign Minister
and Director General of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In September 2009 he was appointed Russia'a ambassador in Slovenia
. A controversy regarding his appointment is in the air; the Slovene opposition contends that Zavgayev's reputation precludes him from becoming the ambassador to the nation, which is beholden to the human rights charter of the European Union.
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
) is the former Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
leader of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
The Chechen–Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, or Chechen–Ingush ASSR ;) was an autonomous republic within the Russian SFSR...
.
Communist leader
In 1989, Zavgayev, a former collective farm manager and senior Soviet Communist Party official, was appointed as the first Chechen First SecretaryGeneral Secretary
The office of general secretary is staffed by the chief officer of:*The General Secretariat for Macedonia and Thrace, a government agency for the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thrace...
of the autonomous republic
Autonomous republic
An autonomous republic is a type of administrative division similar to a province. A significant number of autonomous republics can be found within the successor states of the Soviet Union, but the majority are located within Russia. Many of these republics were established during the Soviet...
since the Chechens' return in 1957.
In August 1991 Zavgayev, the Communist leader of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR, publicly expressed his support for the failed Moscow putsch
Soviet coup attempt of 1991
The 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt , also known as the August Putsch or August Coup , was an attempt by a group of members of the Soviet Union's government to take control of the country from Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev...
against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
.
Taking advantage of the Soviet Union's implosion, Dzhokhar Dudayev and his supporters acted against the Zavgayev's administration. On September 6, 1991, militant
Militant
The word militant, which is both an adjective and a noun, usually is used to mean vigorously active, combative and aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in 'militant reformers'. It comes from the 15th century Latin "militare" meaning "to serve as a soldier"...
s of the All-National Congress of Chechen People (NCChP), headed by Dudayev, stormed a session of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR Supreme Soviet
Supreme Soviet
The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union was the Supreme Soviet in the Soviet Union and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments...
, killing the Soviet Communist Party chief for Grozny, Vitali Kutsenko, severely injuring several other Soviet members, and effectively dissolving the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR. Zavgayev, the Chairman of the Soviet, was not present and was able to flee the republic, publicly announcing that he would return.
Chechen war
By the spring of 1994 Zavgayev managed to convince both the president of RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999.Originally a supporter of Mikhail Gorbachev, Yeltsin emerged under the perestroika reforms as one of Gorbachev's most powerful political opponents. On 29 May 1990 he was elected the chairman of...
and the heads of the "force ministries" that Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
should actively intervene in Chechnya, where he became appointed pro-Moscow head of state on October 24, 1995, and elected in December in a dubious circumstances.
On December 8, 1995, Zavgayev and Viktor Chernomyrdin
Viktor Chernomyrdin
Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin was the founder and the first chairman of the Gazprom energy company, the longest serving Prime Minister of Russia and Acting President of Russia for a day in 1996. He was a key figure in Russian politics in the 1990s, and a great contributor to the Russian...
signed an agreement as a basis for a Russian-Chechen federation treaty which would give Chechnya broad autonomy along the lines of the between Russia and Tatarstan
Tatarstan
The Republic of Tatarstan is a federal subject of Russia located in the Volga Federal District. Its capital is the city of Kazan, which is one of Russia's largest and most prosperous cities. The republic borders with Kirov, Ulyanovsk, Samara, and Orenburg Oblasts, and with the Mari El, Udmurt,...
, and which also incorporated the main points of Ruslan Khasbulatov
Ruslan Khasbulatov
Ruslan Imranovich Khasbulatov is a Russian economist and politician of Chechen descent who played a central role in the events leading to the 1993 constitutional crisis in the Russian Federation.-Early life:...
's earlier proposal.
Postwar career
After the 1996 defeat and withdrawal of the Russian forces from Chechnya, he was appointed Russia's ambassadorAmbassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. Currently he is Deputy Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
and Director General of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In September 2009 he was appointed Russia'a ambassador in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. A controversy regarding his appointment is in the air; the Slovene opposition contends that Zavgayev's reputation precludes him from becoming the ambassador to the nation, which is beholden to the human rights charter of the European Union.