Astemir

Astemir (Chechen/Ingush: Аьстамар, romanized: Ästamar; 1822–1825) was an Orstkhoy outlaw (abrek) and governor (naib) in Caucasian Imamate. Astemir was the companion and brother-in-law of Beibulat Taimiev. In 1825, even participating in uprising of Chechnya. He was a prominent figure, leading the units of outlaws in raids on the Imperial Russian Caucasian Line.

Background Astemir was of Orstkhoy ethnic background. Astemir was married to the sister of Beibulat Taimiev, therefore he was his brother-in-law. The family lived in a slum in a dense forest, at the foot of the Black Mountains, eight versts away from the small village of Uzeni-Yurt, located on the banks of Argun River. He used Uzeni-Yurt as his meeting place to gather outlaws for his raids.

Raids In 1822, Astemir with his detachment failed to rob the Grozny fortress and steal the livestock – he instead rushed to Stary-Yurt and evicted 191 families out, together with all their livestock and property. Aleksey Yermolov was outraged by the accident and commanded to burn down all the empty houses of Stary-Yurt. He also blamed the commendant of redoubt of Stary-Yurt for his inaction; Nikolai Grekov and Artamon Chernov were also blamed.

After the successful victory of Beibulat Taimiev at Khankala Gorge in 1825 against Russian forces under leadership of Sorchan, he planned to take control of the Grozny fortress. Thus, Astemir with a hundred men made an expedition to the Nadterechny villages, while Beibulat made one to Nazran. This operation utterly failed as Nadterechny Chechens didn't rise up and Astemir retreated beyond Sunzha River with a small amount of livestock stolen.

On Summer of 1827, Astemir helped Beibulat Taimiev gather a partisan detachment of 700 men. The detachment later on the 21 of August of the same year destroyed a Cossack outpost on Terek River and on the 17 of September tried to take control of Grozny but were defeated.