Editing Aslan Maskhadov (section)

===Death===
As of 2005, different versions of Maskhadov’s death existed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-03-08 |title=В Чечне убили Масхадова, утверждают военные |url=https://www.newsru.com/russia/08mar2005/finita.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310053418/https://www.newsru.com/russia/08mar2005/finita.html |archive-date=March 10, 2005 |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=NEWSru.com |language=ru}}</ref> According to an official one announced on 8 March 2005 by the head of the [[Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation]] (FSB) [[Nikolai Patrushev]], less than a month after Maskhadov announced the cease-fire,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chechnya: Maskhadov Reportedly Orders Cease-Fire |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1057254.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125213633/https://www.rferl.org/a/1057254.html |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |access-date=2022-03-29 |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=8 April 2008 |language=en |last1=Mite |first1=Valentinas }}</ref> a [[special forces]] unit of FSB had:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Putin: Double-check Maskhadov death |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/3/8/putin-double-check-maskhadov-death |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329140241/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/3/8/putin-double-check-maskhadov-death |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref><blockquote>"… carried out an operation in the settlement of [[Tolstoy-Yurt]], as a result of which the international jihadist and leader of armed groups Maskhadov was killed, and his closest comrades-in-arms detained."<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Узел |first=Кавказский |date=January 26, 2006 |title=Сын Масхадова опровергает официальную версию гибели лидера сепаратистов Чечни |trans-title=Sonf of Maskhadov debunks official version of death of Leader of Chechen separatists |url=https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/88848/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130454/http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/88848/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=Кавказский Узел}}</ref></blockquote>He said the special operations unit had intended to capture Maskhadov alive for interrogation but killed him accidentally with a [[grenade]] thrown into a bunker where Maskhadov was hiding.<ref name=":0" />

[[Akhmed Zakayev]], one of his closest allies who acted as his spokesman and foreign minister, told a Russian radio station that it was probable that Maskhadov had indeed been killed; he indicated later that a new Chechen leader could be chosen within days. [[Vladimir Putin]] awarded those responsible for the assassinations with medals. Shortly after Maskhadov's death, the Chechen rebel council announced that [[Abdul-Halim Sadulayev]] had assumed the leadership.<ref>[https://archive.today/20121222132927/http://www.savelev.ru/book/?ch=18&mode=reply Андрей Савельев: Чёрная книга чеченской войны]</ref>

Four Chechens, Vakhit Murdashev, Viskhan Hadzhimuradov, Skanarbek Yusupov, and Ilias Iriskhanov, were captured in the raid. According to ballistic evidence at their trial in the Supreme Court of the Chechen Republic, Maskhadov was allegedly killed by a shot from the pistol of [[Viskhan Hadzhimuradov]], his nephew and bodyguard. Hadzhimuradov, however, had testified that he does not remember whether he shot Maskhadov or not since he was stunned by an explosion but after the capture, Hadzhimuradov reportedly said: "My uncle always told me to shoot him if he is wounded and his capture is imminent. He said that if he is taken prisoner, he would be mistreated like [[Saddam Hussein]] had been".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.agentura.ru/timeline/2005/maskhadov/?id=1130484780 |title="Следствие: Масхадова застрелил охранник." |access-date=10 November 2010 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927001627/http://www.agentura.ru/timeline/2005/maskhadov/?id=1130484780 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1" />

A year later in 2006, a son of Maskhadov, Anzor, in an interview with [[Caucasian Knot]] allegedly claimed that his father was tracked down by a phone [[International Mobile Equipment Identity|IMEI]] within 2 days before the raid took place. He was found in a hideout (an underground bunker) of one of his relative's buildings.<ref name=":1" /> Shortly after a standoff with Russian special forces he fired his hand weapon, was hit by a [[stun grenade]], and then shot dead.<ref name=":1" /> He also expressed the belief that special forces intended to take him alive but failed.<ref name=":1" />