From spring 2006 until May 2007 Gakayev was commander of the Shali sector of the Eastern Mountain Front (renamed the Southeastern Front in September 2006). He was appointed to the position by then-president of the ChRI Abdul-Halim Sadulayev at the request of Basayev, who was then Military Emir of the Caucasus Front. Gakayev also simultaneously served as minister of internal affairs of ChRI from March to October 2007.[1]