Kadyrov on events in Myanmar: "if he could he would "strike with a nuclear weapon" the people who "kill children, women, and old people."

Kadyrov on events in Myanmar: "if he could he would "strike with a nuclear weapon" the people who "kill children, women, and old people." (CaucasianWatch).

          Ramzan Kadyrov threatens to oppose Russia because of situation in Myanmar

If the Russian authorities take the side of the organizers of the Muslims' persecution in Myanmar, their position will be contrary to that of Chechen authorities. This was stated by Ramzan Kadyrov. Meanwhile, in Chechnya itself, Salafis are subjected to persecution.

On his page in Instagram, the Chechen leader posted a live video in which he commented on the events in Myanmar, the "Dozhd" (Rain) TV Channel reports.

On the video, Ramzan Kadyrov called the events in Myanmar "the genocide of Muslims" and reported getting "a lot of letters" asking him to "send troops" to the country.

According to Ramzan Kadyrov, if he could he would "strike with a nuclear weapon" the people who "kill children, women, and old people."

The leader of Chechnya has called the organizers of the tragic events in Myanmar "shaitans" (devils). He has noted if Russia supports them, then he will oppose the position of Russia.

It should be noted that on August 28, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) condemned the events in Myanmar.

Chechnya pays great attention to religion. Meanwhile, some local residents doubt that the republic needs a large number of theologians. According to the locals, the authorities pay little attention to the development of the economy and the social sphere.

Meanwhile, Muslims who do not profess the traditional concepts of Islam are subjected to persecution.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Source: http://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/40689/
© Caucasian Knot

Kadyrov announces his readiness to resign, leave for Jerusalem and spend the rest of his life guarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Kadyrov announces his readiness to resign, leave for Jerusalem and spend the rest of his life guarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque. (CaucasianKnot).

Ramzan Kadyrov is ready to resign and spend the rest of his life guarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The head of Chechnya has stated this in connection with the conflict situation around the above mosque.

"I myself am ready to resign and serve in structures that ensure the safety of this holy place for Muslims," he wrote in his Telegram, adding that he is against using the war on terrorism as an "instrument of political struggle against Muslims."

On July 14, after the attack on policemen, Israeli authorities reinforced security measures on the Temple Mount by installing metal detectors at the entrance. After that, mass clashes of Palestinians with Israeli policemen led to victims, the RIA “Novosti” reports.

According to the Israeli newspaper “Haaretz”, Muslim leaders found sufficient the concessions of Israeli authorities, who removed the metal detectors and CCTV cameras from the vicinity of the Temple Mount.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Video - Kadyrov: "Homosexuals must be eliminated in order to purify the blood of the Chechen people."

Kadyrov: «Les homosexuels doivent être supprimés afin de purifier le sang du peuple tchétchène» https://t.co/QVqp3XrnQP @RealSportsHBO pic.twitter.com/hhqICoRXvD

— L'important (@Limportant_fr) July 15, 2017

Experts: Chechen Strongman Kadyrov strengthens his influence in Middle East to improve his immunity in Russia.

Experts: Chechen Strongman Kadyrov strengthens his influence in Middle East to improve his immunity in Russia. (CaucasianKnot).

The visit of the Mufti of Chechnya to Syria and his meeting with President Bashar Assad were sanctioned by the Kremlin on the initiative of Ramzan Kadyrov, believe the experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot". 

They state that, apart from using Islamic tools in the Middle East conflict, the Kremlin gives Kadyrov a chance to strengthen his political influence.

The contacts of Russian Islamic religious figures with the Assad regime are intended to legitimize the Syrian regime in the eyes of Sunni leaders of the Islamic world, Alexei Makarkin, the Vice President of the Centre for Political Studies, believes.

"Kadyrov stresses that he can be helpful not only in Northern Caucasus, but also in the Middle East, in particular in Syria; therefore, he sends Chechen servicemen to Syria and benefits from his ties using their connections in the Middle East," Mr Makarkin said, adding that Moscow is trying to "find a common language in the political dimension of religion."

"On the one hand, Russia is a military ally, supporting al-Assad; on the other hand, the Kremlin is seeking to show that this is not a war against Islam," Alexei Makarkin has concluded.

The opinion that the visit of Mufti Mezhiev to Syria was agreed with the presidential administration is supported by Akhmet Yarlykapov, senior researcher at the Centre for Ethnopolitical Studies of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

The military phase of the conflict in Syria is nearing its completion; and Russia is facing a number of problems, for the solution of which the Kremlin has no "human resources" other than Kadyrov. This is the opinion of Denis Sokolov, the head of the RAMCOM Centre for Social and Economic Regional Studies.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Military experts: Chechen servicemen in Syria ensure security for the Russian contingent.

Military experts: Chechen servicemen in Syria ensure security for the Russian contingent. (CaucasianTrudeau).

The strength of the Russian military contingent in Syria is estimated at 7000, with the main surface combat units being the mercenaries from the so-called "Vagner group" and Chechen servicemen, military political analysts believe. In their opinion, the "Vagner" fighters take part in the warfare, while the Chechen servicemen ensure security for the Russian contingent.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that a new battalion of military police went to Syria from Chechnya. The “Rosbalt” reported this on April 19 with reference to its source.

According to Pavel Felgengauer, an observer for the “Novaya Gazeta”, Chechen and Ingush military policemen are about a thousand, that is 15% of contingent.

Alexander, a military journalist, has noted that, apart from the battalions from Northern Caucasus, there is about a thousand servicemen strong infantry battalion of the Black Sea Fleet taking their service in Syria.

In the opinion of Alexander Perendjiev, an expert of the Association of Independent Military Political Scientists, an Associate Professor of the Division of Political Sciences and Sociology at the Plekhanov Russian Economic University, the new battalion will not participate in battles.

According to his version, the functions of the unit "include maintenance of discipline and work with the local population."

Mr Perendjiev has also pointed to the role of the head of Chechnya, assuming that "with the help of Ramzan Kadyrov, Russia is at least poorly connected with the Islamic world."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Reporter who broke news of Chechnya’s gay purge in hiding: 'They declared a Jihad on all journalists at Novaya Gazeta.'

Reporter who broke news of Chechnya’s gay purge in hiding: 'They declared a Jihad on all journalists at Novaya Gazeta.' (PinkNews).

The Russian journalist who broke the news of Chechnya’s homophobic purge has been forced into hiding after the region’s largest mosque declared jihad.

Speaking to the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire, Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Milashina, who authored the reports, revealed that she has been forced into hiding in the wake of the story.

Ms Milashina, who is usually based in Moscow, is currently in an undisclosed location.

She said: “They reacted [to the story] in a terrifying manner… on April 3, in the biggest mosque in Grozny, 15,000 people came together and declared a Jihad on us… not just me personally, but all journalists at Novaya Gazeta.

“They said the people at the newspaper who raised this question have damaged the honour of Chechen nation and should be prosecuted.”

She explained: “We know about four secret prisons. Two of them in the capital of Chechnya, Grozny, one of them in Argun – this is the first secret prison we discovered where LGBT people were detained, beaten, tortured and killed.

“We got this information [a few] weeks ago and began to prove it. It’s pretty hard in Checnya, especially to rescue LGBT people, because they’re a very closed network. The region is very hard on those people and they have to hide.

“The Chechen government denied [the allegations], although they don’t deny that if they found this kind of people in Chechnya they would be killed.

“They don’t deny this, but they deny the secret camps and they have denied that they detained more than 100 people and killed some of them.”Read the full story here.

Related:

"Radio Liberty" reports about secret gay prison in Chechen village of Tsotsi-Yurt https://t.co/SLHerZctUE pic.twitter.com/y71WkGcERK

— Caucasian Knot (@CaucasianKnotEn) April 11, 2017

Fifteen LGBTs ask evacuation from Chechnya https://t.co/DxhmU8cGxm pic.twitter.com/TMXbsSzqY4

— Caucasian Knot (@CaucasianKnotEn) April 7, 2017

Chechen leader Kadyrov & Chechen Muftiate ban Shiite self-torture rituals in Chechnya.

Chechen leader Kadyrov bans Shiite self-torture rituals in Chechnya. (CaucasianKnot).

A group of followers of the Shiite ritual of driving knives in heads has been revealed in Chechnya. Ramzan Kadyrov has held a preventive talk with the self-proclaimed Caliph of the community. The Chechen Muftiate has treated the beliefs of the group as contrary to Islam. Scientists are puzzled on how the cult of religious self-torture has entered Chechnya.

In January, a video appeared on the Internet, showing a group of men in one of the Middle East countries conducting some ritual. Five men had knives driven not deep into their heads. Their faces expressed no visible pain and blood.

The video also showed a Moscow Chechen Aslambek Zubairaev. On February 2, he had a meeting with Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechnya's Mufti Salakh Mezhiev and other members of the clergy.

Aslambek Zubairaev was named the leader of a group of Chechens who took part in the ritual – the followers of one of the Shiite branches that had arisen in Iraq and is headed by Sheikh Mohammed al Kasnazani.

The actions of Zubairaev and his followers are contrary to Islam, said the official of the Chechen Muftiate. According to his story, the self-torture rituals are unacceptable from the point of view of Islam.

Residents of the republic also express their concern in connection with the spread of various religious trends in Chechnya.

They fear extremes in professing Islam, both on the part of radical Salafism, and on the part of radical traditionalism, said Alikber Alikberov, the deputy director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Video - Russian (Chechen) military police in Aleppo.

Reports on the work of Chechen servicemen in Aleppo are sent to Chechnya every day, said Ruslan Numakhadzhiev, the commander of the military police battalion. According to his story, Chechen militaries are in Aleppo since mid-December of 2016.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 23, Ramzan Kadyrov confirmed the presence of Chechen militaries in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

On January 18, the channel of the agency ANNA-News (abridged from Abkhazian Network News Agency) posted a video on the YouTube "Russian military police in Aleppo". 

In the case of Syria, according to the report, the agency seems supports the position of the Russian power agents.

The video shoes the work of the military police battalion of the MoD in Aleppo and presents interviews with the battalion commander Ruslan Numakhadzhiev and his soldiers.

In Aleppo, Chechen militaries subordinate to the Centre for Reconciliation of Warring Parties, said Numakhadzhiev.

He noted that his battalion conducts joint exercises with Syrian militaries and policemen.

According to his story, in Aleppo it is necessary to correct "the negative opinion about Chechens, prevailing among the local population."

Numakhadzhiev has also stated that the battalion fighters "are happy that they were entrusted to carry out such a mission on behalf of the Russian Federation."

Source: http://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/38244/
© Caucasian Knot

Video of police shootout with Chechen gunmen in downtown Chechen capital surfaces online

Witnesses in downtown Grozny have captured a dramatic standoff between police and gunmen who earlier attacked an officer and stole his car. Footage captures non-stop Kalashnikov rounds in the street not far from the Chechen capital’s high-rises.

Video - 'Extremely dangerous Islamic state militant Imran Datsayev detained in Chechnya': Ramzan Kadyrov.

'Extremely dangerous Islamic state militant Imran Datsayev detained in Chechnya': Ramzan Kadyrov. (Tass).

An extremely dangerous militant, who is a member of a militant group controlled by the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization (banned in Russia) has been detained in Russia’s republic of Chechnya, the head of the republic Ramzan Kadyrov wrote on his Instagram page.

"On Saturday, Imran Datsayev, extremely dangerous terrorist, was detained. Earlier he managed to escape during a special operation in the village of Geldagan. He was caught in the vicinity of the Minutka square near the Orbita shopping mall. Police officers blocked the gunman and summoned him to surrender. He threw a grenade at them," Kadyrov wrote.

Currently, Datsayev is being interrogated by the police.

According to Kadyrov, police officers arrested two more members of the terrorist group when those tried to leave the territory of the North Caucasus. They will be convoyed to Grozny. The gang has been completely eliminated.

"We pay special attention to preventive and operative work aimed at disclosure of any criminal intentions on the planning stage, so as not to give the bandits to do evil," Kadyrov concluded.


More:

Saudis force Kadyrov to refute main thesis of Grozny fatwa designating Salafi as a dangerous sect.

Saudis force Kadyrov to refute main thesis of Grozny fatwa designating Salafi as a dangerous sect. (CaucasianKnot).

In the course of his voyage to Saudi Arabia, Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, has admitted that Salafis are not sectarians; and this is evidenced by the statement of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Chechnya.

The Kadyrov's statement, which is contrary to the Grozny fatwa, was preceded by a serious pressure exerted on him by theologians and members of the ruling family of Saudi Arabia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 27, following the outcome of the Islamic Conference on the topic "The followers of the Sunnah: who are they?", participants of the conference in Grozny adopted a fatwa, which recognized only followers of the Sufi tariqat as the true Muslims.

The Grozny fatwa treated supporters of the Salafi concept of Islam as members of a dangerous sect.

According to Kadyrov, during his visit to Saudi Arabia, he discussed with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud "the issues of fighting terrorism and religious extremism."

In the course of the meeting with the Crown Prince, Ramzan Kadyrov "brought apology to his royal highness for the conference in Grozny," the edition named “SaudiaNews” reported on November 27.

The edition referred to the material posted on the Arabic-language news website “Sabq” "President Kadyrov (this is written in the original, – note of the "Caucasian Knot") brought his apology to the Crown Prince for the conference in Grozny, stressing that Salafis are Sunnah people, and apologized for any misunderstandings," says the material posted on the website of the edition on November 27.


Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Video - Chechen President Kadyrov Encourages Polygamy, States: 'I'm Dictatorial against Europe, Not against My People'

Video - Chechen President Kadyrov Encourages Polygamy, States: 'I'm Dictatorial against Europe, Not against My People'

Chechnya's leader Kadyrov urges Erdogan to extradite Chechen terrorists hiding in Turkey.

Chechnya's leader Kadyrov urges Erdogan to extradite Chechen terrorists hiding in Turkey. (Tass).

Acting Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extradite terrorists who have fled Chechnya and are hiding in Turkey.

The Chechen leader also said that if Akhmet Chatayev was complicit in the recent terror attack in Istanbul airport, responsibility for his actions should be borne by the special services of the West, Georgia and other countries.

"I’m glad that the relations between Turkey and Russia are returning to the normal course. I’m requesting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan once again to make a decision on the extradition of terrorists," Kadyrov wrote on his Instagram page.

The Chechen leader said he had numerously asked the Turkish leadership about the extradition of terrorists, giving their names and pointing to Movladi Udugov as their ideological mentor.

"I personally warned then-Interior Minister Besir Atalay in Ankara about a threat coming from them. I was assured that a decision on the extradition would be made but no actions followed," Kadyrov said.

Commenting on the complicity of Chatayev in the terror attack in Istanbul airport, Kadyrov said this person had left Russia as a "rank-and-file bandit." "He was brought up and made a terrorist in Austria, Georgia and Turkey," Kadyrov said.

"In their attempts to harm Russia, Western, Georgian and other special services brought up Chatayev and, if he is complicit in the Istanbul events, they should bear responsibility for this and should not look towards Chechnya," Kadyrov said. Read the full story here.

Kadyrov says he plans to visit Syria before September elections.

Kadyrov says he plans to visit Syria before September elections. (SP).

Syrian opposition representatives visited Chechnya to "exchange experiences" with the southern Russian republic, which has overcome years of terrorism, the acting leader of the Chechen Republic told Sputnik in an interview.


"They visited for consultations. Experience sharing: you have gone through this, what should we do?" Ramzan Kadyrov said.

He did not specify which opposition group the delegation represented.

"[Syrian] President [Bashar] Assad twice invited me… to visit. But I just did not have time… I want to go, certainly," Kadyrov said.

Kadyrov added that he was going to make a visit to Syria before the September elections in the southern Russian region of Chechnya.

Kadyrov told Sputnik that the Syrian opposition is not free to make any decisions, they are made by a third party.

"They cannot decide anything on their own, a 'puppet master' is behind them and this 'puppet master' makes all the decisions," Kadyrov said following a meeting with the representatives of the Syrian opposition.

He added that the Syrian opposition representatives, including military commanders, do not know what they want, which makes them an "absolutely manageable opposition."

Syria's only chance not to lose its statehood is to properly utilize the assistance Russia has given it, Chechen Republic acting leader Ramzan Kadyrov told Sputnik in an interview.

"Today, they have only one chance — which is taking advantage of what Russia has done for them: "it boosted the army's morale, showed how to fight," Kadyrov said.

"[The Russian advisers] not only taught them, but raised their spirit," Kadyrov said.

According to the Chechen leader, Syria was not able to create a strong army and this situation only changed when Russia came to Syria's aid.

"Now, if they properly use what they've got they still can do something. But if this continues, they will lose everything. They will never build a state again," Kadyrov said.

He cited Egypt and Libya as an example.

"Several opposition factions are fighting each other for power. Some for the Americans, others for Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood finances one organization, the United States [support] one general, others finance another general. Daily conflicts, some take one territory, others another. And what happens? They have no leader at the moment," Kadyrov said. Read the full story here.  

Anyone Surprised? Putin appointed Kadyrov the acting head of Chechnya.

Anyone Surprised? Putin appointed Kadyrov the acting head of Chechnya. (Tass).

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a decree appointing Ramzan Kadyrov the acting head of Chechnya before the republic elects a new leader

Chechnya’s Head Ramzan Kadyrov has described his appointment as the acting head of the Chechen Republic as unlimited responsibility and a heavy burden.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a decree appointing Ramzan Kadyrov the acting head of Chechnya before the republic elects a new leader. Putin also expressed the hope that Kadyrov would run in elections for the region’s top post in September.

"I regard [my appointment - TASS] to be unlimited responsibility and a heavy burden. I clearly realize that I cannot live on name or reputation. It is important to give a start to new work and set new and more complicated tasks," Kadyrov wrote on his page in Instagram.

"It’s a great pleasure and enormous responsibility for me to receive any instruction from Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin]. The more so, if it’s so important," he said.

Kadyrov added that the people of Chechnya had earlier asked him to remain the republic’s head. Hmmm......As I predicted Kadyrov reluctantly accepted the heavy burden.

#Kadyrov loyals respond to his possible 'abdication' by appeals on behalf of #Chechen people. https://t.co/sJzOij5Kev

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) March 2, 2016

Vladimir Putin gives Ramzan Kadyrov carte blanche to be re-elected as leader of Chechnya https://t.co/k0mfMhge7R

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) March 26, 2016

Russian authorities believe Ramzan Kadyrov is an indispensable person in relations with Chechnya.

Russian authorities believe Ramzan Kadyrov is an indispensable person in relations with Chechnya. (CaucasianKnot).

The Russian authorities believe Ramzan Kadyrov is an indispensable person in the current model of relations with Chechnya, and the chances of the replacement of the leader the Chechen Republic are very small.

This was stated by Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, the project director for Northern Caucasus of the International Crisis Group (ICG) and a member of the Board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" member, in her exclusive interview to the "Caucasian Knot".


"According to the Kremlin, the resignation of Ramzan can result in the loss of control, and I believe that in the conditions of the economic crisis and the upcoming electoral cycle, Putin will not take such a risk," stated Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya.

The expert believes that the federal government grants and various financial charges imposed by the local authorities play a special role in the sustainability of the Chechen regime.


"In the conditions of the economic crisis, Chechnya is in a privileged position: even in case if the subsidies from the federal budget are cut, the federal authorities try to do it with minimal pain and try to index them. However, because of the depreciation of the rouble, the budget is short of money, and the Chechen elite got accustomed to live in luxury. The lack of funds will result in the increase in levies imposed on citizens of the republic and in the pressure on small and medium businesses.

The Kremlin will most likely not react. Since there is a tacit agreement between the Kremlin and the Chechen elite in the face of Ramzan Kadyrov that they provide to the federal center the combat against armed underground, absence of protests and excellent results of the election.

In return, they are guaranteed support and impunity," Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya has described the model of financial relations between officials of Moscow and Grozny.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Kadyrov loyals respond to his possible 'abdication' by appeals on behalf of Chechen people

Ramzan Kadyrov's subordinates respond to his possible 'abdication' by appeals on behalf of Chechen people. (CaucasianKnot).

On February 28, Grozny hosted the so-called "Civil Forum" in support of Ramzan Kadyrov, organized by direct subordinates of the Chechen leader.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the second term of Ramzan Kadyrov at the post of the Chechen leader expires on April 5. On February 23, he announced that he had no desire to continue leading the republic.

In the evening of February 28, the "Grozny" TV Channel showed a report devoted to the "Civil Forum". During the event, it has been consistently emphasized that the position of the participants of the forum coincides with the opinion of the whole Chechen nation, concerned about the news that Ramzan Kadyrov is ready to leave his post.

The above "Civil Forum" was a temporary alternative to mass rallies, to which public employees, students and pupils of the Chechen Republic are driven, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by a leader of one of the local NGOs, who preferred to remain anonymous.

"All this is just a play, staged with the purpose to ensure that Kadyrov will once again stay in power," the source has said.

According to him, such events are organized under the control of Ramzan Kadyrov himself.

"It's kind of the soil probing and testing the loyalty of subordinates. And this is typical for dictators who approved a regime of personal power," the source has concluded. Hmmm......As i said earlier: Kadyrov is a sly fox he will 'reluctantly' accept to stay as leader of Chechnya.

Chechen Authorities declare Chechen fighters in Syria to be volunteers.

Chechen Authorities declare Chechen fighters in Syria to be volunteers. (Caucasian Knot).

In the rear of the "Islamic State" (IS), not the Chechen spetsnaz (special troops) are operating, but just "self-organized groups of young people," who "risk their lives and suffer losses," representatives of the republic's leadership have admitted. 

Chechen volunteers are in a difficult situation in Syria, according to contradictory statements by Ramzan Kadyrov, and the data of the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Kadyrov said that Chechen spetsnaz is operating in Syria in the rear of the IS militants.

According to Vladimir Komoedov, Chairman of the Defence Committee of the Russian State Duma, the Parliament "knows nothing about the participation of Chechen spetsnaz in warfare in Syria," the Radio "Echo Moskvy" has quoted.

No Russian army servicemen or MIA (Ministry of Internal Affairs) policemen are among the group of natives of Chechnya, who operate in the rear of the IS, said a source in the republic's leadership, adding that Chechen volunteers "present themselves as IS supporters."

Not a single law enforcer from the Chechen Republic is in Syria and Iraq, said Alvi Karimov, the press secretary of the head of Chechnya.

After Kadyrov's words, the territory controlled by the IS will see a total check of all Chechen natives, suggested a retired officer of the Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (known as SVR).

Meanwhile, the "Novaya Gazeta" writes, citing its own sources, that about 20 former servicemen of the battalion "Sever" (North), sacked last October, could have been sent to Syria.

On December 2, 2015, the IS posted a video depicting an execution of a man, who was presented as a native of Grozny, (See picture on top of post)  who had collaborated with Russian secret services; the video also contained threats to authorities and people of the Russian Federation.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

#Chechen special forces were training in #Jordan vs #ISIS as early as 2014#Russia #Syriahttps://t.co/0jgAp2M87b pic.twitter.com/wC7SYEEijL

— маяковский (@moscow_ghost) February 12, 2016

Razman Kadyrov reports on undercover work of Chechen special forces in Syria.

Razman Kadyrov reports on under cover work of Chechen special forces in Syria. (CN).

In the territory of Syria, in the rear of the militants of the "Islamic State" (IS), fighters of the Chechen special forces are operating, said the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, adding that the Chechen fighters had been trained at the centre of special forces near the village of Tsentoroi.

"It's time to report on those, who ensure the success of Russian aircrafts on the ground at the cost of their own lives," said the story about the Chechen special forces, screened on February 7 in the programme "News of the Week" on TV Channel "Russia-1". This story was a preview of the documentary by Alexander Rogatkin, which will be released in the programme "Special Correspondent" on February 10.

Kadyrov's voice off-screen says that they managed to create an extensive network of agents right in the IS, the portal "Medusa" reports.

"Best fighters of the republic were sent there. They gather information about the structure and the number of terrorists, define the targets for bombing and fix the outcomes thereof," said the head of Chechnya.

He said that at the beginning of the war in Syria intelligence agents from Chechnya were sent, under the cover, to training camps where fighters, who profess Wahhabism, were trained.

The Kremlin refused to comment on the story, referring to the information, earlier disseminated by the Russian Ministry of Defence.

Ramzan Kadyrov's statement that Chechen spetsnaz (special troops) is at war in Syria should be treated with scepticism, said Reserve Colonel Victor Murakhovskiy and Andrei Koshkin, a military political analyst. If Kadyrov is telling the truth, then he has actually "exposed" his spetsnaz to the fighters of the "Islamic State" (IS), said Alexei Malashenko, a member of the Scientific Council of the Moscow Carnegie Centre.

As noted by Victor Murakhovskiy, who is also the editor-in-chief of the magazine "Fatherland's Arsenal", Kadyrov "doesn't command any spetsnaz units of the Russia's Armed Forces."

Alexei Malashenko treated Kadyrov's statement as a political promotion (PR) action, noting that he is "sceptical about any real action of the Chechen spetsnaz possible on the territory controlled by the IS." Nevertheless, the expert has noted that "many Chechens went to fight in Syria on the side of the IS."

Andrei Koshkin, a member of the Association of Military Political Analysts, who also heads the Division of Political Science and Sociology of the G. V. Plekhanov Russian Economic University, has admitted that "even if Kadyrov's words are true, then this is only a private initiative."

In 2014, power agents and residents of Chechnya reported sending Chechen spetsnaz to the border with Ukraine. In May 2014, Kadyrov confirmed the presence of natives of Chechnya in the conflict zone in Ukraine; however, he treated an organized sending of Chechen spetsnaz there as an "absolute lie".

Source: http://eng.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/34541/

Kremlin's presidential envoy Warns IS 'Recruiting North Caucasus Students'.

Kremlin's presidential envoy Warns IS 'Recruiting North Caucasus Students'.(rferl).

The Islamic State (IS) militant group is recruiting students at state universities in the North Caucasus, the Kremlin's presidential envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District has claimed.

Sergei Melnikov urged university rectors and authorities to "keep an eye on" young people studying at their institutions.

"We have obtained information about the activities of recruiters for the Islamic State terrorist organization in our universities. Their representatives are recruiting students of North Caucasus state universities," Melnikov told a March 21 council meeting of the heads of the seven federal subjects that comprise the North Caucasus Federal District: Daghestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Stavropol Krai, and North Ossetia-Alania.

Melnikov called on universities in the North Caucasus to take more notice of students' "extracurricular activities."

Melnikov did not specify which universities were affected, however, according to local news reports.

While there has been a handful of reports about Russian nationals attending university or college before being radicalized, and one report of a Kazakh national allegedly associated with IS and who attempted to recruit students at a Russian university, there have been no reports of the systematic targeting by IS recruiters at further education institutions in the North Caucasus.

Russian security authorities conducted counter-terrorism operations in five districts and three towns in Daghestan on March 15-16, according to Russian media reports.Read the full story here.