11 June 2009, 22:10
Data about Umarov's death has no official confirmation
The information about possible liquidation of Doku Umarov, leader of Caucasian militants, who declared, in autumn 2007, creation of Imarate Kavkaz in the territory of Northern Caucasus and proclaimed himself to be Amir of Caucasian mujahads, was not officially confirmed yet. Moreover, assumptions now appear that he was only wounded.
"There's no reliable data that the leader of bandit groupings in Northern Caucasus Doku Umarov was really liquidated. This information hasn't been confirmed through operative channels or any other sources. However, there're all grounds to say that this gang leader was really heavily wounded and taken away somewhere by his accomplices," a source from Chechen power agencies said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
He continued: "We can also state for sure that Umarov's grouping, about 80 fighters strong, had a base in the vicinity of Dattykh village, Sunzha District of Ingushetia; and this base was completely destroyed by a fire strike."
President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov also said in the course of a meeting on June 10 with President of Russia in Dagestan that Doku Umarov is sooner alive than dead.
A former officer of power agencies (in the time of the USSR) said in answer to the question why special agencies, despite all their efforts, during ten years failed to liquidate one of the main leaders of separatists that this was contributed by a number of factors: "Firstly, all these years, from the end of the first military campaign in Chechnya, militants' leaders were not idling. Bases and shelters were built not only in Chechnya, but also in the neighbouring regions; contacts were set up with different forces, and not only in Northern Caucasus.
Secondly, we should admit that leaders of armed formations in Northern Caucasus have an essential base of helpers. I don't mean ordinary citizens, I mean helpers among the authorities and power agencies."
Author: Alexander Ivanov Source: CK correspondent
