 Israilov fought against Russian forces during the Second Chechen War, but was captured in 2003.He began serving as Ramzan Kadyrov’s bodyguard in a militia that was led by Ramzan Kadyrov's father, then Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov.Israilov claimed to have witnessed killings, torture, and other crimes by Kadyrovites including Ramzan Kadyrov and Adam Delimkhanov, who went on to serve in the Russian Parliament.