In December 2014, the Vilayat's then commander, Rustam Asildarov, and a number of other members of the group publicly retracted their oath of allegiance to Caucasus Emirate leader Aliaskhab Kebekov, and pledged loyalty to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Kebekov condemned the defectors and appointed Said Kharakansky as the new leader of the group in Dagestan. Kharakansky and Kebekov's successor, Magomed Suleymanov, were killed by Russian security forces in clashes in August 2015. See also Islamic Jamaat of Dagestan William Plotnikov References External links VDagestan The Roots and Transformation of the Dagestan Insurgency, Jamestown Foundation, 29 September 2010 (UNHCR) Caucasian Front (militant group) Caucasus Emirate Dagestan Guerrilla organizations Islamist groups Islamism in Russia Islamic terrorism in Russia Jihadist groups Islam in the Caucasus