Western analysts, commenting on reports of the murder of separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov in Chechnya, characterize him as a moderate Islamist, in contrast to Shamil Basayev, whom they classify as a follower of the radical branch of Islam.

Experts also note that recently there has been a clear discord in relations between A. Maskhadov and radical Islamists due to divergent views on the future of Chechnya.

Analysts point out that A. Maskhadov, having been elected president of Chechnya in January 1997, was unable to restore the economy of the war-torn republic. Moreover, under his rule, Chechnya was swept by a wave of crime, and the practice of kidnapping became common. As a result, in the eyes of the West, this subject of the Russian Federation has become one of the most dangerous places in the world, experts point out, reports Associated Press .

The destruction of Aslan Maskhadov was a political mistake, Polish Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld said Tuesday evening, delivering a report on foreign policy in Warsaw. The head of the Polish Foreign Ministry believes that “Maskhadov was the only partner” for dialogue with the Chechens.

Maskhadov's murder is a blow to the policy of the European Union, which insisted on a political settlement in Chechnya, says Katinka Barish of the London-based Center for European Reform. Finding another potential negotiator with Moscow who would enjoy authority among the Chechens and would not be discredited by participation in terrorist activities would, in her opinion, be difficult.

Ariel Cohen from the right-wing republican think tank Heritage Foundation expects the Ichkeria lobby to intensify in the United States and strengthen the position of Islamists in the Chechen resistance. “Another chance for negotiations between the separatists and Russia is closing,” he sums up.

Russian authorities accuse A. Maskhadov of organizing a number of terrorist attacks, including the seizure of the Theater Center in Moscow in 2002 and a school in Beslan in 2004. A. Maskhadov himself and his representatives always rejected these accusations.

Meanwhile, judging by the latest statements by the militants, they intend to continue to adhere to the tactics of armed struggle, foreign political scientists note. The AFP agency today quotes A. Maskhadov's representative Akhmed Zakayev as saying that even if Maskhadov is really killed, "the Chechen separatists will continue their struggle."

The West comments on the death of A. Maskhadov