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| Caucasus |
| Assassinated Chechen’s Followers Will Launch a Vendetta |
| 2004-05-11 |
| .... the absence of a central political power may lead to intensified fighting in the republic. Kadyrov was part of a powerful Chechen clan [which] will likely provoke local infighting and blood revenge. Akhmed Muradov, who heads the Chechen Diaspora of Kazakhstan and is vice president of the World Chechen Congress, said that Kadyrov " ... Now, his son has been put into it, a vendetta will begin according to traditional obligations of the son for the father, and escalation will take place. It is difficult to imagine the consequences of this explosion," Muradov said. The 52-year-old leader was widely unpopular among Chechens, who said he terrorized local citizens using his private police force, comprising deeply loyal clan members and experienced former rebels. The group is believed to inspire even greater fear among Chechens than federal forces currently serving in the republic as part of Russia’s second war in the breakaway region in the past decade. The force -- estimated to number up to 4,000 fighters -- is believed to be responsible for numerous human rights abuses, including kidnappings and torture. Kadyrov’s son Ramzan commands the force and is said to operate a private prison on its behalf. .... RFE/RL correspondent Andrei Babitskii has extensively covered Russia’s conflict in Chechnya. .... Babitskii said Kadyrov’s assassination will set his private security forces adrift -- and likely leave them demoralized, angry, and ready for revenge. "I think that, of course, a vendetta will take place," Babitskii said. "I think that now, all of Kadyrov’s forces, who already acted very cruelly -- much more cruelly than the federal forces -- they of course will start a hunt. In most cases this hunt will be motivated by revenge. It will aim to avenge the death of a political leader as well, the death of a relative, a man who belonged to the same clan, if you want." .... |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |