Husein Isabayev: a brigadier general of Ichkeria
During the First War, Husein was responsible for the prison in the village of Goyskoye, where Chechens held the Russian prisoners of war. He sometimes gathered his fighters and warned them not to lay a finger on the prisoners. “Don’t you ever harm any of them. We are responsible for them before God, and it is dishonorable to mistreat the weak.”
In 1996, before the famous Battle of Goyskoye began, the Chechens entered into negotiations with the Russians. During the talks, the Russian commander demanded that Husein release all the prisoners, hand over 200 weapons, and surrender within an hour. In return, everyone would be granted amnesty, and the village would be spared from destruction. Husein replied to the Russian commander, “You give us an hour, and I will give you 30 minutes to remove all this garbage from our territory, or else we will annihilate every single one of you.” The Russians were surprised by his boldness, and both sides left without reaching an agreement. Later, intense bombardment of the village began.
During the chaos, Husein moved from trench to trench, lifting the fighters’ spirits and teasing them, “Don’t tell me you’re already scared?” Surprised by the fierce bombing, the Chechens jokingly asked him, “What did you tell them to make them so angry, Husein?”
On July 27, 2002, while crossing the Kerigo Gorge on the border between Georgia and Chechnya, Husein fell into an ambush set by Russian forces. According to the Chechens who took part in the battle, Husein became ecstatic during the shootout. A fire of joy burned in his eyes, and he fought like a madman, grabbing weapons from others and charging into the fight, screaming “Allahu Akbar.” He told his men, “Don’t worry, guys. Dying on God’s path in our homeland is a true gift!”
Having fired all his ammunition and taken out several Russians, Husein Isabayev was fatally struck by a bullet and died at the scene in the Kerigo Gorge.