Throughout its history the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria established a series of orders for state awards of merit. Today some of them (mostly unauthorized replicas) can be found on online memorabilia markets, but throughout its history numerous “official” specimens were actually distributed, sometimes in pompous public ceremonies, to the highest officers of the ChRI.

ORDERS

The idea of establishing a set of orders of merit was introduced by President Dudaev in the aftermath of the Declaration of Independence. He wanted the new Chechen state to be equipped as soon as possible with the symbols and rituals typical of an independent entity, starting with the printing of postage stamps and a national currency, the distribution of official uniforms and banners, and so on. Among these measures, the one that was most successful and effective was the establishment of state medals. To date we have received 7 orders of medals, which we summarize below.

Order of Dzhokhar Dudaev (“Jovkhar Dudayevakh TsIarakh “)

Established at the end of the First Chechen War to commemorate the first President of the Republic, Dzhokhar Dudaev, who died on April 21, 1996, and considered the “eternal leader” of the separatists, it was conceived to honor citizens of the Republic (but also foreigners) for exceptional political, military, scientific, and creative services rendered to the homeland. In order to obtain this award, considered the highest honor of the ChRI, one had to already be a recipient of the Order of “Honor of the Nation” (we will discuss this later). Alternatively, the two orders were awarded simultaneously.

Consisting of a single grade, it was awarded by presidential decree and accompanied by a regular certificate of validity. Like all other awards of the republic, it was supposed to be made of precious materials (in this case gold, platinum, emeralds, rubies, and diamonds, silk ribbon, and gold fringe). However, none of these examples remain, if they were ever produced. On the other hand, several examples defined as ‘da campo’ (field) were certainly made and delivered, i.e., in ‘poor’ metal so that they could be used daily without risk of wearing out the original.

Order “Honour of the Nation” (“Qoman Siy”)

Considered the highest honor of the Republic before the introduction of the Order of Dzhokhar Dudaev, it was established in 1995, at the height of the First Chechen War, by the President of the Republic Dzhokhar Dudaev. Again, the frieze was designed to be made of noble materials (gold, platinum, rubies). It seems that 10-12 of these were actually produced (although none remain in circulation), while all the others were made in the “field” version. The orders were made in Turkey, both before and after the war.

Initially, the award was intended to be given to senior army officers (who in the ChRI were Division Generals and Brigade Generals) for their military achievements. However, at the end of the First Chechen War, the Honor of the Nation was widely used by both interim President Zelimkhan Yandarbiev and the President elected in January 1997, Aslan Maskhadov, to reward their collaborators or to keep their opponents at bay, debasing the value of this award. A total of four series of the National Honor were produced, the first three numbered, the fourth, now inflated, did not even bear a serial number.

To date, 86 people have been awarded the Honor of the Nation. Below is a list of the recipients, accompanied by the information in our possession (for formatting purposes, the table must be moved using the scroll bar at the bottom):

NAME	DATE	FROM	NOTE
Dzhokhar Dudaev
Zelimkhan Yandarbiev	23/02/1997	Maskhadov
Aslan Maskhadov	07/02/1995	Dudaev
Abdul – Halim Sadulayev		Maskhadov
Aydamir Abalaev
Roza Abdurakhmanova
Salman Abuev			Stripped of his titles for high treason
Aslanbek Abdulkhadzhiev		Dudaev
Akhmad Avdorkhanov	14/09/2000	Maskhadov
Imam Alimsultanov		Yandarbiev
Ruslan Alikhadzhiev	?/02/1997	Maskhadov
Abu Arsanukaev		Dudaev	Stripped of his titles for high treason
Vakha Arsanov	?/02/1997	Maskhadov
Alash Arsaev
Aslanbek Arsaev	?/01/1997	Maskhadov
Isa Astamirov			Received 2 Orders
Turpal Ali Atgeriev	?/02/1997	Maskhadov
Taus Baguraev		Maskhadov
Vahid Bamatgireev	Autunno 1996	Yandarbiev
Abu Bakar Bantayev			Stripped of his titles for high treason
Said Magomed Baysangurov	03/03/1998	Maskhadov	posthumous
Shamil Basayev		Dudaev
Akhmad Basnukayev		Dudaev
Movladi Basnukayev
Apti Batalov	?/02/1997	Maskhadov
Balavdi Beloev
Zayndi Beloev
Shirvani Beldurov		Maskhadov	posthumous
Adam Bibulatov
Zubair Visangiriev		Yandarbiev
Salavat Gaev	?/04/1999	Maskhadov
Idris Gaibov	30/08/1997	Maskhadov	Stripped of his titles for high treason
Khamzat Gaurgashvili	Autunno 1996	Yandarbiev
Umalt Dashaev			posthumous
Shaikh Magomed Dikiev	?/?/2001	Maskhadov
Ali Dimaev		Yandarbiev
Lecha Dudaev		Maskhadov
Shamil Dudaev		Yandarbiev
Akhmed Zakayev	12/04/1996	Dudaev
Nuna Idalov
Shamil Idrisov
Absulkadyr Izrailov	30/08/1997	Maskhadov

Aslanbek Ismailov		Dudaev
Khunkharpasha Israpilov
Hussein Iskhanov	30/08/1997	Maskhadov
Akhmad Kadyrov		Yandarbiev	Stripped of his titles for high treason
Isa Madaev	20/04/1997	Maskhadov	Received 2 Orders
Hasukha Magomadov	28/10/1998	Maskhadov
Ramzan Mazayev	?/?/1998	Maskhadov
Kazbek Makhashev		Yandarbiev
Rubati Mitsaeva		Maskhadov
Abusupyan Mosvaev		Yandarbiev	posthumous
Salamo Muzhidov
Vahid Murdashev
Ramzan Mutsiev
Khozh Ahmed Nukhaev	?/?/1996	Yandarbiev
Rafael Niyazbek	09/06/1997	Maskhadov
Salman Raduev		Dudaev
Ibragim Saidov			Stripped of his titles for high treason
Mumadi Saidaev	?/?/1996	Yandarbiev
Buvaysar Saitiev			Stripped of his titles for high treason
Ali Sultanov			Stripped of his titles for high treason
Mukhazhir Susaev		Yandarbiev
Ramzan Seriev
Yakhya Tasuev	?/01/2004	Maskhadov	posthumous
Movladi Ugudov	?/02/1997	Yandarbiev	Stripped of his titles for high treason
Zeindi Umarov	14/09/2000	Maskhadov
Rumani Khadzieva		Maskhadov
Islam Halimov
Magomed Khambiev		Maskhadov	Stripped of his titles for high treason
Amruddi Khamsurkaev	30/08/1997	Maskhadov
Ruslan Khailkharoev		Maskhadov
Magomed Khatuev
Khizar Khachukaev		Yandarbiev
Dalkhan Khozhaev	17/09/1995	Dudaev
Lecha Khultygov		Yandarbiev
Musa Charaev	19/03/1999	Maskhadov	posthumous
Shirvani Eskerkhanov	?/01/2004	Maskhadov	posthumous
Zhalavdi Yusupov	17/09/1995	Dudaev
Eldar Khadzhi Yusupov		Maskhadov
Murad Yusupkhadzhiev	?/?/2003	Maskhadov	posthumous
Sulim Yamadaev		Yandarbiev	Stripped of his titles for high treason
Aslan Yahyaev
Ivar Amundsed	19/09/2010	Zakayev
Adam Borowski	19/09/2010	Zakayev
Onlu Meder	19/09/2010	Zakayev
Anna Politkovskaya	19/09/2010	Zakayev	posthumous
Aminat Saieva	19/09/2010	Zakayev
Algirdas Endriukaitis	19/09/2010	Zakayev
Natalia Estemirova	19/09/2010	Zakayev	posthumous
Arbi Evmirzaev	01/03/2010	Zakayev	posthumous

(List of photographs: Aslanbek Abdulkhadzhiev, Abusupyan Mosvaev, Shamil Basayev, Hunkarpasha Israpilov, Hussein Iskhanov, Aslanbek Ismailov, and Dalkhan Khozhaev wearing the Honor of the Nation. Various versions of the award. Salman Raduev and Akhmed Zakayev wearing the Honor of the Nation)

Order “Hero of the Nation” (“Qoman Turpal”)

Borrowed from a long tradition of awards with this name that were popular in the Soviet Union, the “Hero of the Nation” award was given to combatants who distinguished themselves in battle. Widely used during the First Chechen War and then inflated between 1996 and 1999, hundreds of these awards were given out, but few remain in circulation. There is no official list of recipients of the award.

Order “Consciousness” (“Yakh”)

Established on August 17, 1996, by President Yandarbiev, it was intended for individuals who had distinguished themselves for high civil merit “for the courage shown and conscientious fulfillment of duty to the people during the Russian army’s aggression against the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.” The following individuals were certainly awarded this order:

Magomed Muzaev, director of the CRI national archives “For collecting materials on the genocide”

Musa Khadisov, lawyer ”For collecting and legally recording materials on the genocide of the Chechen people and for his commitment to bringing the perpetrators to the International Court of Justice and to the judgment of history”

Tamara Khagaeva, freelance journalist “For extensive media coverage of secret crimes against the Chechen people.”

Nazhmuddin Daaev, Minister of Infrastructure in 1998 ”For managing the construction of the Itum Khale-Shatili highway.”

In addition, two people were awarded by acting Prime Minister Akhmed Zakayev:

Visita Ibragimov, former director of the Department for Relations with the Vaynakh Diaspora

Shahan Hussein, representative of the Vaynakh diaspora, awarded for his support to refugees

Dokudaev, Akhmed, President of the National Assembly of Chechens in Europe

Order“Sword of Gazavat” (“Glazotan Tur”)

Very little is known about this order, which is certainly linked to military merit. The Order of the Sword of Gazavat refers to the “Holy Mobilization” proclaimed at the beginning of the First Chechen War. President Maskhadov awarded at least three:

Sultan Arsaev, Army Colonel

Lecha Dudaev, Army Colonel and Mayor of Grozny since 1996

Gezmakhma Israpilov, awarded posthumously on 20/08/1997

Order “Knight of Honour” (“Siy dolu Qonax”)

Established by President Dudaev to reward foreign citizens who contributed to the cause of the Republic, the Order of the Knight of Honor was produced in Krakow, Poland..

The first (and, to the best of our knowledge, the only) recipient of this award was Russian human rights activist and founder of the Democratic Choice party, Sergei Kovalev. The Order was offered to him in 1995, in the midst of the war, and Kovalev refused to accept it until the end of the war, on January 22, 1997.

Order “Sheikh Mansur” (“Mansuran Tslarakh”)

Established in two grades (1st and 2nd) to reward personal merit, it was issued under the presidency of Aslan Maskhadov. A batch of these awards was ordered in the mid-1990s from a Lithuanian manufacturer, but it is not known how many of them reached Chechnya, nor how many were actually awarded. It is known that the Arab fighter Abu Kuteiba, active during the Second Chechen War, was awarded one for his most famous military action, during which he shot down a transport helicopter, killing over a hundred Russian soldiers at Khankala airport.

(The slideshow shows a frame in which Abu Kuteiba is wearing the Order of Sheikh Mansur and a reproduction of the award in “field” format.)

MEDALS

With the outbreak of the First Chechen War (and even more so with its “victorious” end), it became necessary to establish commemorative medals for participants in the main battles fought by the ChRI army. A total of four medals were introduced:

Medal “Defender of the Fatherland” (Midal “ Daymehkan bjäxo”)

This medal was introduced to reward participants in the First Chechen War who had distinguished themselves for military merit. Designed in early 1996, it was supposed to be made of precious materials such as gold and platinum, but the surviving examples are all in a “field” version made of white metal. They were widely distributed, especially in the interwar period.

Medal “Defender of Freedom” (Midal “Marshonan bjäxo”)

Award established for civil merit on April 10, 1997, on the first anniversary of the death of President Dudaev (who died on April 21, 1996). It was divided into three grades (Gold, Silver, Bronze). There is no information regarding its awarding. It was intended for “active participants in the political processes of forming and defending the independence of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, as well as persons who provided active moral, material, and political support for the independence of the ChRI.” The medal was awarded by a commission composed of members of the Assembly of Political and Social Parties and Movements for the Independence of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Congress of the Vaynakh Diaspora in Russia.

Medal “Defender of Grozny” (Midal “Grozny glalin blaho”)

Awarded to those who distinguished themselves in the defense of the capital during the Battle of Grozny (December 1994 – March 1995), it was established after the First Chechen War and widely distributed among former combatants.

Medal “Medal of Liberty” (Midal “Marshonan Milal”)

Established by the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria government in exile, it is awarded to Chechen citizens and foreigners considered to be fighters for human rights and freedom of speech, as well as justice in general. The first medal was awarded to Maria Bezelyuk in Lvov (Ukraine) on November 27, 2003. The most illustrious person to have received the Medal of Freedom was Anna Politkovskaya, who was awarded it at the Finnish Parliament in January 2005.

HONORARY TITLES

Finally, the ChRI government established honorary titles for distinguished citizens who had distinguished themselves in their professions. Something similar to our “Knights of Labor.” The ChRI established 23 honorary titles:

“Honored Builder”
“Honored Worker in the Oil and Gas Industry”

“Honored Chemist”
“Honored Agricultural Worker”
“Honored Electrician”
“Honored Transport Worker”
“Honored Economist”
“Honored Lawyer”
“Honored Worker in Culture”
“Honored Artist”

“Honored Worker in Physical Education and Sport”

“Honored Teacher”

“Honored Doctor”

“Honored Reporter”

“Honored Architect

“Honored Construction Worker”

“Honored Inventor”

“Honored Craftsman”

“Honored Scientist”

“Honored Pilot”
“Honored Navigator

In 1998, this was followed by the title of “Son of Liberty,” awarded to Chechen or foreign citizens who distinguished themselves for exceptional merits in the construction of the independent Chechen state.

The winner in 1998 was Dr. Sultan Aiskhanov, a doctor and academic, founder and head of the abdominal surgery clinic in the village of Lakha-Nevre, Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences and head of the General Surgery Department at the State Medical Institute.