Shamil Basayev

Shamil Salmanovich Basayev (January 14, 1965- July 10, 2006) was a Chechen militiant who led guerilla campaigns against the Russian government for Chechen independence. Basayev was known for his brutality, ordering many terrorist attacks such as the Budyonnovsk hospital hostage crisis in 1995, the 2004 Beslan school massacre, as well as the 2002 Russian theatre hostage crisis and the 2004 Russian aircraft bombings. He was killed after handling a mine. The Russian government claimed responsibility.