[4] That particular unit was most noted for its near-destruction of the radical Wahabbi “Sharia Regiment" led by renegade Chechen warlord Arbi Barayev in Gudermes in the summer of 1998.
[7] The creation of these new structures was seen as an effort by Kadyrov to curb the influence of Yamadaev's Vostok and Said-Magomed Kakiev's "Zapad" (West) battalions, as well as further consolidate his monopoly over armed units inside the republic.
[8] The ensuing shootout lasted the entire day, with the opposing sides utilizing heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, and reportedly even armored vehicles.
[8] While Kadyrov was enraged, he was unable to do anything about it and thus forced to acquiesce;[8] the rebel website Kavkaz Center reported 16 members of the Vostok and Kadyrovtsy killed in the battle, while Reuters claimed that 18 people had died, including some civilians.
"[citation needed] In response, Ruslan Yamadaev – an older brother and a deputy to the State Duma from Chechnya – demanded that the Kadyrovtsy be moved out of Gudermes in order to permit the military prosecutor's office to investigate the claims against the Vostok battalion.
[8] In the meantime, federal political leaders had remained quiet in the first days of the confrontation, but on 16 April the head of the Russian Armed Forces' Main Directorate for Combat Training and Service, General Vladimir Shamanov, denied there had been a clash in Gudermes, instead stating that it was "just a warlike gesture".