Chechnya is an autonomous, Islamic republic in southern Russia. When Chechnya was governed by a separatist regime and declared independence in 1992, it adopted new national symbols, including its own anthem. The song was written in 1988 for the dramatic play “The Land of Our Fathers” in the theatre of Grozny. The separatist government used this song as the anthem of Chechnya-Ichkeria until the Russians retook the capital and installed a Moscow-friendly government, which implemented new national symbols. The anthem is more than likely still used by most, if not all, of the competing governments-in-exile.

The lyrics contain the phrase “Lailaha illAllah” / “ЛаилахIа иллАллахI” (“There is no God but Allah”) after every second line in the anthem, this phrase is a central tenet of faith in Islam.

Special thanks to: Pavel Zinovatny for some of this information, Paweł Ciupak for the music file, and Jo Hyo-roe for the sheet music.