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members of Russian organized criminal groups. 29 Chechnya-based terrorists can also hope that al-
Qaeda, which maintains ties with the Islamist strain of radical separatists in the North Caucasus and
has had Chechen members, will supply them with nuclear weapons for a jihad against Russian
infidels if it manages, for instance, to topple the government of Pakistan. 30 Therefore, Russian
authorities must do everything in their capacity to fill all holes in the country’s nuclear security
fences before terrorists acquire the capability to build a nuclear bomb. Otherwise, given the existing
29 “We also believe that [al-Qaeda leader Osama] bin Laden was seeking to acquire or develop a nuclear device,” George
Tenet, Director of the Central Intelligence, told hearings at the U.S. Congress in February 2002. In his testimony, Tenet
refrained from disclosing where al-Qaeda operatives could be shopping for such technology. “Worldwide Threat -
Converging Dangers in a Post 9/11 World,” testimony of Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet before the
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, February 6, 2002. Al-Qaeda may be trying to acquire nuclear weapons and
weapons-grade materials in Russia through local organized crime gangs, Washington Times reported, citing a source in the
U.S. defense community. Bill Herz, “U.S. says al-Qaeda exploring Russian market for weapons,” The Washington Times,
October 8, 2002.
30 There have been numerous reports about links between Chechen separatists and al-Qaeda. Some noteworthy
examples include: (1) U.S. charge d’affaires in Tbilisi Philip Remler suggested in February 2002 that the Chechen
contingent in Georgia’s Pankisi gorge could include individuals with ties to al-Qaeda, “Georgian Defense Minister
Doubts Al-Qaeda In Pankisi,” RFE/RL, May 10, 2002, available at http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2002/05/2-
TCA/tca-100502.asp as of July 14, 2002. (2) U.S. intelligence agencies have estimated that as many as 100 al-Qaeda
militants joined hundreds of Chechen fighters who set up base in Georgia’s troubled Pankisi gorge. Peter Baker, “Arab
Militants Turned Over to U.S. by Georgian Forces,” The Washington Post, October 21, 2002. (3) The FBI also believes
there are ties between Chechen separatists and al-Qaeda. “Although al-Qaeda functions independently of other terrorist
organizations, it also functions through some of the terrorist organizations that operate under its umbrella or with its
support, including: the Al-Jihad… and the Chechen region of Russia.” J. T. Caruso, Acting Assistant Director, Counter
Terrorism Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Statement for the Record on Al-Qaeda International Before the
Subcommittee on International Operations and Terrorism Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate,
Washington, D.C., December 18, 2001, available at http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress01/caruso121801.htm as of
July 14, 2002. (4) There have been reports of Chechens fighting on the al-Qaeda side in Afghanistan. Two Chechen
members of al-Qaeda were killed in a gun-battle with Pakistani troops in Azam Warsak, a remote tribal area of Pakistan
bordering Afghanistan on June 26, 2002, unidentified Pakistani officials said. The same area saw Pakistani security
officials capture a Chechen, identified as Muhammad Yahya, also in June, the officials said. M. Ismail Khan, “10
Soldiers, Two Fugitives Killed: Al-Qaeda Hideout In Tribal Area Raided,” Dawn, June 27, 2002.
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