Kadyrov accuses Umarov and Zakaev of murdering three natives of Chechnya in Turkey

Dokku Umarov, the leader of militants in the North Caucasus, and Akhmed Zakaev, ex-Prime Minister of the unrecognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, who are in the wanted list of the Russian law enforcement agencies on terrorism charges, are involved in murder of three Chechen natives in Turkey. This was declared today by Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 16, in Istanbul, three natives of Chechnya were murdered, who, presumably, participated in the illegal armed formations some time ago. A number of Turkish and British media have published versions of possible involvement in the murder of the persons working for the Chechen authorities and the Russian security services.

"We have information that was an internal shoot-out of the armed formations. We know that the bandits led by Umarov are involved in the incident. It is possible that Zakaev also might be involved. Perhaps, the incident was caused by the money to be divided," the websites of Kadyrov and of the government of the Chechen Republic quote Ramzan Kadyrov as saying.

"Militant leaders use every opportunity to hurt us. We should deprive this opportunity from them," said the leader of Chechnya. He stressed that it was necessary to maintain close relations with the Turkish authorities to provide them with full information about persons who had committed crimes in the territory of Russia and then hided in Turkey, the "RIA Novosti" reports.

In turn, the websites, supporting the leader of the so-called Imarat Kavkaz and the armed underground in Chechnya, published translation of the special report released by the Turkish newspaper "Haber Turk". According to its conclusions, the murder of three Chechen natives in Istanbul was committed by Russian secret services agents, one of whom was called "the closest assistant of Ramzan Kadyrov".

Besides, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that in Istanbul Uvais Akhmadov, a former Chechen field commander, and Barkham Batumaev, a 26-year-old Chechen native, were taken into custody. According to information of the Turkish police, in October Batumaev tried to assassinate Shamsuddin Batukaev, ex-leader of the Supreme Shariat Court of the self-proclaimed Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. After his detention, Batumaev claimed that Uvais Akhmadov had ordered the assassination. However, the Turkish police released Akhmadov on the fifth day after his arrest, since it failed to reveal sufficient evidence of his involvement in the assassination attempt.