Chechen warlord Umarov’s brother in Turkey accused of being behind Grozny attack

GROZNY

A group of unidentified gunmen moving in three cars attacked a traffic police checkpoint in Grozny in the early hours of Dec. 4. REUTERS Photo

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has said Akhmat Umarov, who is allegedly hiding in Turkey and is a brother of the late warlord Doku Umarov, was behind the fatal attack on a police checkpoint in Grozny on Dec. 4, ITAR-TASS News Agency has reported.

“There is evidence that Doku Umarov’s brother financed, organized and therefore bears responsibility for the attack,” Kadyrov told reporters on Dec 5. “Russia’s law enforcement agencies must demand his extradition from Turkey.”

Kadyrov said Umarov’s brother deceived 11 militants who had infiltrated Grozny. They were told their goal was to reach Grozny and to open fire, as another 400 gunmen who were allegedly staying in the city would join them. Kadyrov said all 11 militants were killed in the operation and were later identified.

Umar Kadyrov, a close relative of the Chechen head, was also killed during the anti-terrorist operation in Grozny, Kadyrov wrote on one of his official social network pages on Dec. 5.

“The events in Grozny are echoed with pain in the hearts of all Chechens and millions of Russian citizens,” he said. “I deliberately refrained from speaking about the heroic death of my close relative Umar Kadyrov, who was only 22, but he lived a bright life for Allah, for Islam and for his people.”

The family of a militant who commits murder will be expelled from Chechnya without the right to return, he added.

“If a militant in Chechnya kills a policeman or any other person, the militant’s family will be immediately expelled from Chechnya without the right to return. Their house will be pulled down together with the foundation,” Kadyrov said, noting that he would not allow anybody to spill blood in Chechnya.

Earlier on Dec. 5, Kadyrov held a meeting with ministers, regional administration chiefs and the heads of internal affairs departments, where he revealed the extremely tough but fair condition.

Kadyrov’s strong reaction comes in the wake of Thursday’s terrorist attack in Grozny.

A group of unidentified gunmen moving in three cars attacked a traffic police checkpoint in Grozny in the early hours of Dec. 4. The attackers sneaked into the local Press House, where the editorial offices of the republic’s newspapers, Internet publications and federal media outlets are located. Chechen law enforcers then blocked the Press House building in central Grozny and launched a security operation. During the operation to neutralize the gunmen, 10 officers were killed and another 28 wounded.