Zyazikov is considered a close ally with current Russian president and former Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, especially because of his province's proximity to Chechnya.

On April 6, 2004, Zyazikov was lightly wounded when a car bomb was rammed into his motorcade (he sat in an armored Mercedes W140) on the main road near the city of Nazran.

On March 30, 2006, the kidnappers made their demands: they wanted Zyazikov and Ingushetia prosecutor general Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov to resign in exchange for Chakhkiyev's release.

The Interior Minister of Ingushetia, Beslan Khamkhoyev, resigned and was replaced by Musa Medov a day before the press conference, apparently as a fallout from the kidnapping.

The opposition attribute the growing violence to popular anger fueled by alleged abductions, beatings, unlawful arrests and killings of suspects by the federal forces and local police and allied paramilitaries.

On October 30, 2008, Murat Zyazikov was dismissed from his post by the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev,[9] As reported by an Interfax news agency.

[12][13][14] Weeks before his killing, Magomet reportedly knew his life was in danger and had planned on seeking political asylum in a European Union country.