Interviewer: Why you have joined the Chechen resistance, and how did you come to this decision?
Abu Hafs: I heard and observed that the Chechen Muslim people wished to liberate their land from the Russians and desired to live in accordance with the laws of Islam. Russians occupied this territory; they kill Muslims, both old, and young, as well as women and they seized all Muslim public institutes. Seeing all of this I asked myself one question "How can the true Muslim not assist the Muslim brothers? As the result, I made the decision to go for Jihad in Chechnya.

Interviewer: What is situation with Resistance now? Can you tell us about last events?
Abu Hafs: I have good news for you. The struggle in Chechnya has strengthened. The Russians are not accomplishing more success; success has turned to us. Shortly we shall show to Ummah the real force and power of Resistance also we shall apply a new strategy. All Commanders are now in obedience to Dokka Umarov. This has allowed us to develop the new strategy. Now we cause significant losses to the Russians every day. We have sent a lot of Russian soldiers to Hell and will be sending many more during our large operations under our new strategy that will soon be applied.

Interviewer: All these years the struggle in the Chechen Republic has been associated with the name of Shamil Basayev. What influence has his death had?
Abu Hafs: I ask Allah to accept Shamil Basayev as a Shaheed; to let him enter Paradise and grant to us an opportunity to meet there. During history, the demise of the commander was represented as this or that influence on movement. It is possible to say in relation to such hero as Commander Shamil Basayev that the essence of Islamic Resistance should gain strength with death of the commander. This is because true resistance is helped by Allah the Supreme and the battles are for His just cause. And in this case, the purpose of this struggle is to help the oppressed, to return that which was taken away from them and to bring the Muslim world to humility to their Lord. He was the greatest Shaheed in the history. The Chechen Jihad, under leadership of Dokka Umarov is strong; the same as during Shamil Basayev's leadership because every Mujahid is some kind Shamil.

Interviewer: During the years, you battled shoulder to shoulder near Shamil Basayev against Russians. What was Basayev, the person, like?
Abu Hafs: When Commander Shamil Basayev became Shaheed, it was known all over the Islamic world for he was one of the leaders of Jihad in last century. This brave commander was not afraid anybody. He has heroically entered history. I was a personal friend of our Commander Shamil and I can tell you that his courage, wisdom and fighting experience was repeated by fighters very often. Seldom does a commander receive such acclaim. He thought only about Muslims, that they having found freedom should live under Laws of Allah, and also about liberation of native Chechen people, about a peaceful and safe life on the land. This was his main agenda although he was still strongly interested in the struggle of Palestinians. He often communicated with those who came from Palestine to Chechnya. He often reflected on the destiny Islamic Resistance in comparative analysis and trusted in the achievement of victory under condition of observance of the Laws of Allah. Shamil developed great vision wider than others and he was not afraid of anybody, except Allah. May Allah be kind to him.

Interviewer: Many experienced commanders achieve martyrdom. Now on command posts are often appointed 28-29 year old commanders. Do you not think this is a drawback?
Abu Hafs: Martyrdom of great commanders will not break force and power of Resistance. Young commanders are not an attribute of weakness; on the contrary, youth come to Jihad to aspire to be similar to such commanders as Shamil, Jowhar, Maskhadov and Sadulaev that are symbols of Jihad. These young commanders are full of advantages and honor; Jihad in the way of Allah has raised Chechnya. We should not forget that a cub of lion is a lion also.

Interviewer: On American's list of "terrorists", your name is near the top. Have you actually had any communications with Al-Qaeda?
Abu Hafs: When has America ever told the truth about us? Or given truthful information about Iraq? What did they speak truthfully about the Iraqi and Afghani people? When the Palestinian fighters won fairly in a democratic election did they honor the rights of the Palestinians? Unless the purpose is to capture Muslim land, murder Muslims and lure the people, when did they not sneer at the Islam and Muslims? The Abu Ghraib prison serves as the greatest proof of the fallacy of the American agenda. How shall we trust America after all this? As for me personally, I have gone out for Jihad in the Way of Allah. Also I am the person obedient to His religion. Would it be fair to those who protect honor, religion and the oppressed Muslim brothers to name members of Al-Qaeda?

Interviewer: There are many concerns about Al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden. What do you think of this?
Abu Hafs: Conversation and more conversations will remain. It is impossible to trust these. My opinion is that they are group of Muslim Mujahideen, similarly to other groups. They help Islam and the oppressed Muslim and Osama bin Laden is one of the leaders of Jihad. I ask Allah to help everybody who shows diligence on His Way.

Interviewer: There has been talk that Turkish people are providing financial help to the Chechen resistance, ostensibly that Turkish money is being sent to the front. Is this true?
Abu Hafs: This is not a clear statement or a question. I can tell the following; the help collected for us completely reaches its purpose. We watch it carefully. So, our Turkish Muslim brothers helped us to spend iftars in Ramadan. The help in Sacred Month of Ramadan is especially blessed. I thank all Muslims for helping.

Interviewer: Putin has declared amnesty to fighters that have surrendered. Are their some that have taken advantage of this for the sake of financial gain?
Abu Hafs: Amnesty has been declared but how can one grasp that oppressors forgives the oppressed. On the contrary, it is the oppressors that should ask for a pardon. The mere fact that the Russian authority has taken such an action testifies to the strength of the Chechen Resistance, and weakness and feebleness of Russian army. None among the Mujahideen has accepted this offer. On the contrary, all Chechen fighters have responded on amnesty by intensifying the struggle.

Interviewer: What do you think about victory gained by Hezbollah over Israel in Lebanon?
Abu Hafs: Hezbollah won in Lebanon because it battled for a just cause. This victory testifies that the beginning of the end of the criminal Zionist domination in Palestine.

Interviewer: The Pope is expected to visit Turkey. Attacks on Islam and on our Prophet have recently become frequent. How do you perceive this situation?
Abu Hafs: Zionists and radical Christians do not cease to attack Islam and to offend our Prophet, peace be upon him. First of all this public opinion is prepared. The purpose of these dirty insinuations is to sow discord to strengthen animosity between the Muslims and Christians, to proliferate Christianity in the Muslim East. And for the American leaders to prepare the groundwork for their next aggression.

Interviewer: Do you want to say anything to Turkish people through our newspaper?
Abu Hafs: The prophet of Allah said: "there is no gratitude to people without gratitude to Allah". I wish to express gratitude to Turkish Muslim people that have acted sensitively to the call for help from oppressed Muslims and who help the Mujahideen. One scientist has said "Continuation of a just case with persistence is a reason for acceptance by Allah of this deed." So, everybody helping for Chechen Jihad will find the award at Allah, Insha'Allah.