The government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in exile was established in 2007, after Doku Umarov, the last president of Ichkeria and a supporter of Wahhabism, announced the dissolution of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and the establishment of the Caucasus Emirate in its place, with Chechnya designated as the “Vilayat Nokhchicho.” This followed the final defeat of Chechen armed formations by the Russian Army. Akhmed Zakayev, who at the time served as foreign minister of the unrecognized republic, emerged as the leader of Chechen politicians who opposed this decision.