1. Abdul-Halim Sadulayev was the first Chechen leader effectively attempting to unify the Islamic rebel forces outside Chechnya, as he had won pledges of loyalty not only from Chechen separatists, but from Islamist groups seeking the overthrow of the Kremlin's authority across the North Caucasus; this formation became known as the Caucasian Front.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev was credited with persuading radical warlord Shamil Basayev not to carry out any major terrorist attacks since Beslan.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev's surname is variously written Sadulaev, Sadulayev, Saidulaev, Saidulayev, Saidullaev, Saidullayev or Saydullayev; the first two of these seem to be favored by insurgent sources, while the others are favored by Russian sources and Western media.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev was born into the Biltoy branch of the Ustradoi teip, an influential clan in the town of Argun on the plains of central Chechnya to the east of Grozny.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev joined an Argun militia to fight against the Russians as a volunteer fighter.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev studied Islam under local Islamic theologians, and from 1996 began appearing regularly on Chechen television speaking about Islam.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev lectured across Chechnya, and eventually ended up leading Argun's Muslim community as the town's Imam.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev made the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the only time he is known to have left his homeland.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev became the leader of the only Argun jamaat in his city, which was known to carry out missionary activities, as well as policing the neighborhoods.
Shortly following Maskhadov's death on 8 March 2005, the Chechen rebel council announced that Abdul-Halim Sadulayev had assumed Maskhadov's position, a move that was quickly endorsed by Shamil Basayev, the Chechens' highest-profile guerrilla commander.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev strongly condemned hostage takings and said that after the end of the war the new president should be democratically elected.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev had not only an ideological commitment to maintaining the conflict, but perhaps a personal one as well.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev had worked to eliminate terrorist violence and urged Basayev and other warlords to direct attacks on "legitimate targets", and stressed that attacks on such targets should avoid injuring civilians.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev appeared to have convinced Basayev, who was enlisted in the formation of the Caucasian Front, that giving up on civilian targets would help spread the insurgency across the North Caucasus.
In February 2006, Abdul-Halim Sadulayev announced a cabinet reshuffle targeting several top rebel representatives living abroad, including Akhmed Zakayev, who was dismissed as deputy prime minister.
Abdul-Halim Sadulayev signed a decree ordering all his ministers to be based in Chechnya.
On 17 June 2006, Abdul-Halim Sadulayev was killed in a gun battle with the FSB and pro-Moscow militiamen in Argun.