Hero of the Russian Federation (2022, posthumously). 

In 1981, he graduated from the Yeisk Higher Military Aviation Order of Lenin Pilot School named after twice Hero of the Soviet Union, USSR pilot-cosmonaut V. M. Komarov. Then he served for two years as a pilot in the 168th Guards Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment. His service took place at the Didi-Shiraki airfield in the Transcaucasian Military District. From 1983 to 1988, he served at the Kunmadaros airfield, Hungary. He was a senior pilot of the 1st Guards Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment of the Southern Group of Forces. From 1988 to 1998, he served at the Smuravyovo airfield in the Leningrad Military District in the 67th Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 76th Air Army. Over the years, he held various positions: senior pilot, flight commander, deputy squadron commander. He graduated from the Yury Gagarin Air Force Academy. After graduating from the academy, he commanded a squadron, then deputy regiment commander. From November 1998, he was the commander of the 722nd Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 6th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense. In 2000, he was appointed deputy commander of the 149th Mixed Aviation Division of the same army. In 2002, he was transferred to the Siberian Military District. Until 2007, he was stationed in Buryatia and commanded the 21st Mixed Aviation Division. He took part in combat operations in Tajikistan in 2004. In 2007, he was recognized as the best pilot of the Trans-Baikal Military District. In 2008-2010 - commander of the air division of the Transbaikal Military District. In 2010, he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. He was the fourth Karachay to ever study within the walls of this high academy.

Commanded the 7000th Guards Aviation Borisov Pomeranian Twice Red Banner Order of Suvorov Base. 

In 2012, Botashev was dismissed from the Armed Forces.Since 2012, he worked as Deputy Chairman of DOSAAF of Russia for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region for aviation.

Participant of the Special Military Operation as part of the Wagner PMC

On May 22, 2022, while performing a combat mission on a Su-25 to hit designated targets, Kanamat Botashev received information that an assault group of Russian troops was surrounded in the LPR and requested support. Having hit the designated targets, the pilot decided to provide support to the Russian infantry.

Under heavy fire at a very low altitude, he struck the enemy. The encircled group was able to break the Russians out of the fire bag. When the plane was leaving the attack, it was hit by an anti-aircraft missile. Kanamat Botashev died, but he fulfilled his military duty.

By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin dated June 1, 2022 No. 334, Major General Kanamat Khuseevich Botashev was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

Kanamat Khuseevich Botashev (May 20, 1959, Nizhnyaya Teberda village, Karachayevsky district, Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Okrug, RSFSR, USSR - May 22, 2022, Popasnaya, LPR) - Soviet and Russian military pilot, pilot of the SU25 attack fighter of the Wagner PMC, retired major general.