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Prominent Chechen killed in Dubai | Prominent Chechen killed in Dubai |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Russian authorities have confirmed a prominent opponent of the pro-Kremlin Chechen President, Ramzan Kadyrov, was shot dead in Dubai on Saturday. | The Russian authorities have confirmed a prominent opponent of the pro-Kremlin Chechen President, Ramzan Kadyrov, was shot dead in Dubai on Saturday. |
Diplomats said Sulim Yamadayev's body had been identified by his relatives. | Diplomats said Sulim Yamadayev's body had been identified by his relatives. |
Mr Yamadayev fell out with Mr Kadyrov last year and was sacked as commander of an elite security forces battalion. | Mr Yamadayev fell out with Mr Kadyrov last year and was sacked as commander of an elite security forces battalion. |
Saturday's killing is the fourth of a prominent Chechen since September, when Mr Yamadayev's brother Ruslan was shot dead while driving in central Moscow. | Saturday's killing is the fourth of a prominent Chechen since September, when Mr Yamadayev's brother Ruslan was shot dead while driving in central Moscow. |
The Chechen leader has denied any involvement in the killings. | The Chechen leader has denied any involvement in the killings. |
Former rebel | Former rebel |
Russia is poised to declare a formal end to its 10-year war in Chechnya this week, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow. | Russia is poised to declare a formal end to its 10-year war in Chechnya this week, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow. |
But far beyond its borders, the bloody struggle for control of Chechnya continues, our correspondent adds. | But far beyond its borders, the bloody struggle for control of Chechnya continues, our correspondent adds. |
On Saturday, Dubai police said a 36-year-old Chechen man had been shot in the underground car park of a luxury residential complex. It took some time to confirm that the victim was Sulim Yamadayev. | On Saturday, Dubai police said a 36-year-old Chechen man had been shot in the underground car park of a luxury residential complex. It took some time to confirm that the victim was Sulim Yamadayev. |
Mr Yamadayev was shot dead in an underground car park in Dubai | Mr Yamadayev was shot dead in an underground car park in Dubai |
"I just received confirmation from the Dubai police that he was killed," Russian Consul Sergei Krasnogor told the Reuters news agency on Monday. | "I just received confirmation from the Dubai police that he was killed," Russian Consul Sergei Krasnogor told the Reuters news agency on Monday. |
The Yamadayevs came from of one of the most powerful clans in Chechnya. | The Yamadayevs came from of one of the most powerful clans in Chechnya. |
Sulim was a former separatist rebel leader who later switched to the Russian side, after then-President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Chechnya to retake control. | Sulim was a former separatist rebel leader who later switched to the Russian side, after then-President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Chechnya to retake control. |
Mr Yamadayev became commander of the elite Vostok security forces battalion, a unit of former rebels who have helped quell separatist resistance. In 2005, he was named a Hero of Russia, the top national honour. | Mr Yamadayev became commander of the elite Vostok security forces battalion, a unit of former rebels who have helped quell separatist resistance. In 2005, he was named a Hero of Russia, the top national honour. |
But last year, he was dismissed after falling out with Mr Kadyrov and later fled to the United Arab Emirates. | But last year, he was dismissed after falling out with Mr Kadyrov and later fled to the United Arab Emirates. |
Spate of killings | Spate of killings |
Recently opponents have accused Mr Kadyrov's henchmen of systematically removing any opposition to his absolute rule, our correspondent says. | Recently opponents have accused Mr Kadyrov's henchmen of systematically removing any opposition to his absolute rule, our correspondent says. |
However, Mr Kadyrov and his Moscow-backed government have denied any connection to the recent killings of several high-profile Chechens. | However, Mr Kadyrov and his Moscow-backed government have denied any connection to the recent killings of several high-profile Chechens. |
In January, Umar Israilov, a former bodyguard for Mr Kadyrov who had accused him of torture and kidnapping, was shot dead on a street in Vienna. Then last month, a former deputy mayor of Grozny was shot dead in Moscow. | In January, Umar Israilov, a former bodyguard for Mr Kadyrov who had accused him of torture and kidnapping, was shot dead on a street in Vienna. Then last month, a former deputy mayor of Grozny was shot dead in Moscow. |
In 2004, two Russian intelligence agents were convicted of killing a former Chechen president, Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, in the nearby state of Qatar. | In 2004, two Russian intelligence agents were convicted of killing a former Chechen president, Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, in the nearby state of Qatar. |
Chechnya has been devastated by heavy fighting since 1994, when Russian troops first poured in to crush a separatist movement. | Chechnya has been devastated by heavy fighting since 1994, when Russian troops first poured in to crush a separatist movement. |