 Arsanov was accused of corruption and involvement in criminal activity, including kidnappings of foreigners and connections with the Chechen mafia in Moscow.In February 1999, Arsanov was sacked when a presidential decree abolished his post, but he said he would not leave office unless President Maskhadov also stepped down.He said the republic's top Islamic body, the Shura, should be allowed to select a new national leadership to transform Chechnya into an Islamic state.