Aslan Maskhadov (53) was democratically voted into the Chechen presidency in January 1997, although he was exiled just two years later. Maskhadov was considered to be one of the more moderate commanders of the Chechen rebel group and was one of the few?if not the only–still willing to negotiate with Moscow. Moscow’s appointed leader, Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov, is the sole officially recognized leader of the separatist state. But, de facto President Maskhadov’s death likely leaves Shamil Basayev (40) as the main rebel leader; he tends to be more antagonistic with the Motherland. For example, Maskhadov adamantly maintained that his faction had no involvement with the tragedy of Beslan , the 2002 Moscow theater siege , or the 1999 Moscow apartment blasts (Terrorist Incident and Terrorist Incident), although Moscow was sure that he and his coterie were involved in them all. In the end, other more radical leaders, including Basayev, laid claim for the attacks. Maskhadov’s involvement in attacks against civilians has never been proven, and he stood fast against targeting civilians.

His death will likely have adverse consequences for the direction and volatility of the group and, as a result, for stability in the region. Maskhadov’s death is a symbolic loss to the rebels; however, he had lost considerable power within the separatist’s landscape. Other figures with considerable power and following are far more dangerous, but the death will be viewed as a huge victory for Moscow.