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Chechens in Syria: some of them spy for Russia, others fight it fiercely. Chechens in Syria: some of them spy for Russia, others fight fiercely with it Chechen security forces in Syria

12 servicemen from a Defense Ministry unit stationed at the Khankala military base near Grozny were dismissed from service for refusing to go to Syria, Chechen sources said. According to them, all those fired are local residents.

On December 6, an amateur video was published on the Internet indicating that military police were sent to Syria from the suburbs of Grozny. A combined detachment of military personnel stationed in Chechnya will perform the functions of military police in Syria and guard the Russian air base in Khmeimim, Kommersant reported on December 8 a source at the military base in Khankala. 500 soldiers of the combined military police detachment have been sent from Chechnya to Syria, a source in the republican law enforcement agencies said on December 9.

Russian aviation has been striking targets in Syria since September 30, 2015. According to official data, the strikes hit the positions of the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), banned in Russia by the court and recognized as a terrorist organization. In Syria there is a Russian naval base in Tartus and an air base in Khmeimim.

12 residents of Chechnya refused to go to Syria to take part in hostilities, local sources reported

A source in the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that a group of contract soldiers who served in a military unit on Khankala refused to go to carry out combat missions in Syria.

“There were 12 “refuseniks” in total. All of them were dismissed from military service. The contract with them was terminated ahead of schedule,” the source said.

At the same time, he noted that there are significantly more people who want to go on a business trip to Syria than those who do not want to go there.

“There are a lot of volunteers. First of all, this is due to the fact that increased pay and various benefits have been promised,” the source said.

All those dismissed from service for refusing to go to Syria are local residents, said a source working at the Khankala base as a civilian employee.

“A few days ago, a drill review was held of a combined military police battalion that was leaving for Syria. A group of military personnel refused a mission to a “hot spot”, for which they were dismissed from service. 12 military personnel from among local residents refused the trip,” said this source.

The man also said that representatives of the leadership of the republic and Mufti Salah Mezhiev came to the military base, who spoke to the soldiers and declared the importance of their mission for the Islamic world.

After a video was posted on the Internet about the sending of Chechen military personnel to Syria, an investigation into the disclosure of this information was launched in Chechnya, and the sending of military personnel was suspended, the military registration and enlistment office of Chechnya reported.

“As far as I know, a video about the dispatch of a combined detachment of a unit of the Ministry of Defense to Syria caused a serious scandal. An internal investigation was launched into this fact at the end of last week, and the dispatch of military personnel was suspended,” said an officer of the military commandant’s office of the republic.

A criminal case has been opened in Chechnya regarding the appearance on social networks of a video about the sending of military personnel to Syria, Rosbalt reported today, citing Chechen sources. According to him, five people were detained as part of the investigation into the case, including one officer.

When and exactly how many military personnel will be sent from Chechnya to Syria is still unknown, he noted. “For now we are talking about one battalion,” added the representative of the military registration and enlistment office.

Earlier, the republic's law enforcement agencies reported that the backbone of the military personnel sent to Syria from Chechnya were former fighters of the GRU special forces battalions "West" and "East" disbanded several years ago, who were transferred to the military police unit at the end of November.

Critics of sending troops to Syria include those who cite religious norms

It is worth noting that the sending of military personnel from among the residents of Chechnya to Syria caused a negative reaction among part of the population of the republic.

“In Syria, Muslims are destroying each other with the support of other countries. A Muslim believer is prohibited from the blood and property of another Muslim, and this should be remembered by everyone who has gone to Syria or intends to go,” Mikail from Grozny, in particular, told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

“The only reason why our guys can go to Syria or somewhere else is to participate in some kind of peacekeeping or humanitarian mission, but not to participate in hostilities on anyone’s side. This is unacceptable both morally and socially. religious point of view,” believes a former employee of one of the republican departments, who introduced himself as Adlan.

The imam of one of the Chechen mosques, Hasan, also agrees with him, criticizing those military personnel who go to Syria for the promised increased reward.

“Both those who succumbed to the propaganda of ISIS (the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) is recognized as a terrorist organization and banned by the court in Russia - note by the Caucasian Knot), and those military personnel who go to Syria for money are committing a huge sin before the Almighty ", said the imam.

However, not everyone agrees with these opinions.

“In the comments, netizens actively support the operation [transfer of military personnel from Chechnya to Syria] and wish them good luck! Because they know that these guys will not let you down, they will only show their worth!” — in particular, social network user lpdorochenko wrote in a comment to one of Ramzan Kadyrov’s Instagram posts.

The soldiers themselves, leaving Chechnya for Syria, in a video released on December 6, declare: “We are not going there to do harm,” “Everything is with the permission of Allah. We all rely on Him,” “With the permission of Allah, I am going so that I can be useful.”

Let us recall that in February, the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, announced the work of Chechen special forces in Syria. According to him, special forces operate behind the lines of militants of the Islamic State terrorist organization banned in Russia by a court, collecting information about the number of terrorists and identifying targets for bombing. Chechen fighters were trained at the special forces center near Tsentoroi, the head of Chechnya claimed. Later, the republican authorities announced that in the rear of the Syrian militants there were not Chechen special forces, but “self-organized groups of young people who risk their lives and suffer losses.”

The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, made a significant statement regarding reports that appeared in the media about the dispatch of Chechen special forces to Syria. According to him, there are no battalions and no special forces in Chechnya, but there are Chechens who serve in the Russian armed forces. However, the war on Syrian territory is justified because it is a fight against terrorism.

“Domestic media are circulating reports about the “sending” to Syria of “military personnel of the “East”, “West” battalions and “Chechen special forces”. I responsibly declare that there are no “East” and “West” battalions in the Chechen Republic. In Chechnya, as well as in any other region, units of the RF Ministry of Defense are stationed. Russian citizens from Chechnya and other subjects of the federation serve in them,” he wrote on his Instagram.

Meanwhile, Kadyrov’s words do not exclude sending Chechens to Syria.

“It is well known,” the head of the republic wrote, “that Russian troops are not taking part in the ground operation in Syria. At the same time, the Ministry of Defense has never made a secret of the fact that there is an airbase in Syria and its security is ensured by military personnel of the Russian Defense Ministry. They are rotated periodically. Some teams arrive, others leave. If the military units stationed in Chechnya ever receive an order to serve as the guard of an air base in Syria, then they will have the happiest lot.”

Kadyrov recalled that he had repeatedly stated his readiness to fight terrorism, and not only on Russian territory.

“I have repeatedly said and repeat now that, as a general, as a Hero of Russia, I am ready at any moment to join the ranks of those who are fighting international terrorism. The enemy must be destroyed in his lair before the tentacles reach your country, land, Fatherland. Back in 1999, the team of the First President of the Chechen Republic, Hero of Russia Akhmat-Hadzhi Kadyrov vowed to fight terrorists and Wahhabists, wherever they were. We have proven our loyalty to this oath with our entire lives. I would be happy and proud to receive an order from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces and immediately go to Syria to fight evil spirits,” he noted.

Moreover, Kadyrov spoke out for the need to destroy the enemy far from Russia.

“Today, Syria, with the connivance of Western countries, has been destroyed, millions of people have been killed, become refugees, humiliated and insulted, scattered throughout the world. If terrorist gangs are not destroyed, they will end up where they are least expected. Therefore, they must be neutralized far from our home! And we are ready for this at any moment!” - wrote the leader of Chechnya.

On December 14 last year, the Russian president stood in front of reporters and boasted that sending police units from the North Caucasus to Syria was his personal initiative, and the reason was that the Syrians trust them because the police are Sunni Muslims.

Thus, since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, there are already three Chechen combat groups in the country. The first group arrived on Syrian territory at the very beginning of the conflict to fight, together with revolutionary groups, against the regime and its allies. The second fought alongside the Islamic State organization ( prohibited in the Russian Federation - approx. edit.) and shared the beliefs of the latter, while a third group, loyal to Moscow and the Chechen president, arrived in Syria to fight alongside Russian troops.

Chechen fighters on the side of the forces of the Syrian revolution

At the start of the Syrian revolution, groups of Chechen fighters rushed to answer what they called "the call for global jihad." They arrived in Syria to fight alongside the rebels against the Syrian regime and its allies, and are distinguished by extensive military experience gained during the fight against Russia.

These groups were accepted by the Syrians in opposition-controlled areas and participated with them in important battles on the Syrian coast in 2013 and 2014, achieving certain victories for the Syrian opposition. The Foreign Policy magazine () called these militants who joined the Syrian opposition “Ichkerians.” These are militants who support the self-proclaimed state of Ichkeria and formed the group "Soldiers of the Caucasus", which is believed to be part of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which later became known as Jabhat al-Nusra ( prohibited in the Russian Federation - approx. edit.) and is associated with al-Qaeda ( prohibited in the Russian Federation - approx. ed.). In addition, Chechen fighters created an independent battalion “Soldiers of Sham” in Syria, commanded by Emir Muslim al-Shishani. Before al-Shishani moved to Syria, he fought alongside notorious jihadist leader Khattab in Chechnya against Russian forces. There is also a group called Ansar al-Sham in Syria, led by another Chechen leader, Abu Musa al-Shishani, who speaks fluent Arabic.

Although the number of members of this group of Chechen fighters is currently declining, they initially took a position hostile to the Islamic State, believing that fame and money were the motives for a number of Chechens to join this organization. They participated in repelling the aggression of IS militants against the Syrian opposition on the coast. Thus, as a result of the fighting, two Chechen militants were killed by IS. In addition, this Chechen group is distinguished by its hostility towards the so-called “Kadyrovites,” Chechens loyal to Moscow. As Timur Makhauri, one of the founders of the “Soldiers of the Caucasus” group, said: “The war in Syria will end, and we will need to find another war, but we will continue to pursue the Kadyrovites anywhere in the world.”

Chechens in the Islamic State are fighting or spying for Russia

On November 13, five Islamic State militants carried out a terrorist attack within the walls of a military airfield in Deir ez-Zor. This operation was described as something new, since previously the leaders of the organization had never used the appearance of their Chechen fighters so that, under the guise of Russian soldiers, they could infiltrate a particular building.

In an attempt to examine the details of some Chechens joining the Islamic State, it should be noted that the majority of those who fought alongside ISIS militants belong to the Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar faction. (an organization banned in Russia - editor's note), which was created as an independent group to fight the Syrian regime. Thus, joining the Islamic State should be seen as an attempt to gain support from the Arab militants of the Caucasus Emirate group ( prohibited in the Russian Federation - approx. edit.) in the fight against Russia, while IS was attracted to the Chechens by their reputation as the most powerful fighters in the world, distinguished by their physical abilities, ferocity in battle and the moral support they provide to other groups.

Context

Chechen troops will bring victory to Russia

Enab Baladi 08/15/2017

Has Putin become Kadyrov's hostage?

Le Figaro 08/02/2017

Putin is fighting the forces of Islam

Newsweek 08/13/2017

They destroyed Grozny, they will destroy Syria too

Shaam News Network 11/29/2017

Chechen response to the Syrian question

El-Dorar 01/17/2018 The reputation of Chechen fighters in the Islamic State is based on their military experience gained in the first and second Chechen wars. They use this experience today when fighting in the ranks of IS militants, as a former member of the organization noted. For the same reason, the civilian population of Syria and Iraq fears the tall Chechen fighters much more than other foreign fighters.

When talking about the experience of cooperation between Chechen militants and the Islamic State, it is necessary to mention Tarkhan Batirashvili, nicknamed Abu Umar al-Shishani, who went down in history by taking the oath to the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The man with a Christian background grew a red beard before joining Chechen militant groups fighting the Syrian regime in 2013, only to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State that same year. It was he who contributed to increasing the role of Chechen militants in the organization after he took senior military positions in it, becoming one of its main leaders. He was killed in July 2016 during fighting in Iraq.

Chechens who are members of the Islamic State consider their fellow countrymen, called “Kadyrovtsy,” to be their enemies, and the feelings are mutual, as Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said on his Instagram page. He noted, in particular, that the Islamic State seeks to destroy Muslim countries and distort the image of Islam in front of the world, which has come to consider this religion the greatest evil.

The confrontation between the two sides took on a new character when in December 2015, IS militants executed one of the Chechens, accusing him of spying for Russian intelligence. The terrorist organization published a video in which this man says the following words: “I arrived in the territory of the caliphate on the orders of Russian intelligence and I want to confess my true intentions.”

Although Kadyrov denied all accusations that the Chechen was a spy, four months after his execution in February 2016, the unexpected happened: the Chechen leader admitted the existence of spies from Chechnya who had infiltrated the ranks of the Islamic State and served Russian interests. “Thanks to its spies, the Russian air force has successfully destroyed terrorist bases in Syria. These spies collected information that the Russian air force used to determine the targets of its bombings,” Kadyrov said.

Multimedia

Daily Mail 12/11/2017

Putin resolves the Syrian conflict

InoSMI 03/30/2017

Long-range air strike in Syria

RIA Novosti 07/21/2016 Then came the incident when Kadyrov returned the families of members of the Islamic State organization from Syria to Russia, which served as further evidence that some Chechens were able to infiltrate the group. As the Russian news agency Sputnik () reported, on November 9, Kadyrov transported a group of 44 women and children from Syria to the Chechen capital, Grozny. These families were detained by the Syrian Democratic Forces after the liberation of Raqqa.

Russia sends Chechens to fight in Syria and perform other tasks

With the start of Russian intervention in Syria in September 2015 and the establishment of control over some areas in this country, Moscow began to need additional human resources to be located at airfields and in institutions captured by Russian troops. For this reason, Russia selected Chechen fighters who speak Arabic and even a Syrian dialect, and created secret units consisting of more than a thousand fighters who received extensive training from Russian military intelligence forces. She then selected those who had previously seen combat and sent them to Syria to help Russian troops in ground operations and guard their headquarters.

The presence of Chechen fighters loyal to Moscow came to light when a video was leaked online showing about 500 fighters waiting to be sent to Syria. On January 24, 2017, Kadyrov admitted that he sent a group of Chechens, the so-called Russian military police, from Chechnya to Syria. As the Chechen leader said, he sent special forces battalions “West” and “East” to Syria to ensure security in Aleppo, as well as to guard the Russian Khmeimim base in Syria.

As Russia asserted its influence in the Middle East, it had to hide the true numbers of its human losses and therefore use Chechen soldiers, especially since it disdains the inhabitants of the Caucasus region due to past wars. As a journalist specializing in the North Caucasus, Grigory Shvedov, told Foreign Policy, it will be easier for Putin to sacrifice the Chechens and other peoples of the North Caucasus than the Russians. The issue also has a religious aspect. Thus, Moscow sent Sunni Muslims to Syria in order to win the hearts of Syrians who suffered from attacks by Shiite militias subordinate to Iran. Russia does not appear to have abandoned the Sunnis as it did in Aleppo, where they appeared during prayers at the mosque and military facility where they are based.

Kadyrov offers his services to Russia on Syrian territory

“I swear by Allah, many people dream of going there, starting with our ruler. People envy those who go there like you,” said the Mufti of Chechnya, Salakh Mezhiev, meaning that he envies the Chechen soldiers fighting in Syria. On top of that, he noted that Kadyrov asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to send him to Syria, because he dreams of going there to protect Muslims.

Despite the fact that the ruler of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has a history of confronting Russian authorities, today he uses his power and iron fist to serve Russian interests. He is a close ally of President Putin and has always supported Russian foreign policy.

Thus, Syria was no exception, and Kadyrov offered his support to the Russian leadership in this country. He did not limit himself to “blessing” the Russian military intervention in Syria, which began in 2015. He had no objection to “fighting the scum” in Syria, as he put it. At the beginning of 2017, Kadyrov sent his closest adviser Adam Delimkhanov and the Mufti of Chechnya Salakh Mezhiev to Syria. Both men met with the brother of Syrian President Maher al-Assad and other representatives of the Syrian regime. It was stated that this visit took place to maintain peace and order in Aleppo and protect civilians from terrorists.

In addition, in the interests of Moscow, Kadyrov used the supply of humanitarian aid to Syria from the Akhmat Kadyrov Regional Public Fund, intended for Syrians in Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The fund will also undertake the restoration of one of the oldest Umayyad mosques in Aleppo, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List but was destroyed by the Islamic State.

In reality, Kadyrov used less than transparent methods, sending Chechen fighters to Syria or providing financial assistance through Kadyrov Foundation projects. Thus, the fund’s activities were sponsored by mandatory contributions from Chechen citizens. It is known that the Russian military recruited Chechen homosexuals through blackmail. The Russian newspaper Meduza reported, citing an account by a Chechen man named Ruslan, that officers from Russia's Federal Security Service showed him a secret video recording revealing his close relationship with another man and threatened to publish it if he refused to work for them in Syria.

InoSMI materials contain assessments exclusively of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the InoSMI editorial staff.

Sending police officers to Syria does not contradict the law, since December amendments to the law allow Interior Ministry employees to enter into short-term military contracts to “suppress the activities of international terrorist organizations outside Russia,” military experts interviewed by the Caucasian Knot said.

"Kadyrov’s enemies were actually sent to Syria"

Sending Interior Ministry employees to Syria does not contradict Russian legislation, says Novaya Gazeta columnist Pavel Felgengauer. “This is a business trip - and anyone can be sent on it. Theoretically, a person can refuse. But usually they don’t do that,” Felgenhauer told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

Pavel Felgenhauer suggested that the Chechen security forces who left for Syria “are paid crazy foreign currency travel allowances.” “Now in Chechnya there is a queue of people wanting to go to Syria. I assume that travel allowances will be allocated from the federal budget. According to my calculations, the daily allowance reaches $100 for each security officer,” Felgenhauer said.

The tasks of the Chechen security forces will include “ensuring the security of local Syrian Sunnis,” Felgenhauer believes. “Chechens are needed in Syria so that there is a presence of Russian Muslim troops in the region, and Sunnis at that. There were agreements with Ankara that the Chechens would protect the Sunni population from possible Shiite excesses. Russia will continue to balance between Iran and Turkey,” Felgenhauer said.

At the same time, Pavel Felgengauer emphasized that, according to his information, “the so-called “Kokievites” and “Yamadevites”, who are subordinate to the federal center, were sent to Syria.” “In fact, Kadyrov’s enemies were sent to Syria. Kadyrov, of course, doesn’t like this very much, since it is not his people who are strengthening. He is seething with indignation and refuses everything - they say that there are no Chechens in Syria. However, I do not rule out that and “Kadyrov’s people” will take part in the Syrian conflict,” Felgenhauer said.

The “Yamadayevites” are former fighters of the “Vostok” battalion, which until May 2008 was headed by Sulim Yamadayev. "Kokievtsy" (Kakievtsy) are former fighters of the "West" battalion. This battalion was headed by Said-Magomed Kakiev until 2007. On December 8, the Kommersant newspaper reported the dispatch to Syria of a combined detachment consisting of fighters from the East and West special forces battalions of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The “East” and “West” battalions, which were part of the GRU structure, were disbanded, the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, recalled on the same day.

"Police officers have the opportunity to work for the Ministry of Defense"

The editor-in-chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, reserve colonel Viktor Murakhovsky, believes that the information about the dispatch of Ministry of Internal Affairs officers to Chechnya does not correspond to reality.

"Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs can take part in international operations only under the auspices of the UN and nothing else.", Viktor Murakhovsky told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

However, military journalist Alexander Golts did not agree with Murakhovsky’s point of view. At the same time, he emphasized that on December 14, the Russian State Duma adopted in the second and third readings a bill amending the law “On Military Duty and Military Service,” which will allow concluding contracts for military service for a period of only six months.

Such contracts can be concluded for participation in operations “during emergencies or in activities to maintain or restore peace and security, suppress international terrorist activities outside Russian territory,” said Alexander Golts.

“After the adoption of this law, police officers can, for example, go on long leave and enter into a contract with the Ministry of Defense for this time,” emphasized Alexander Golts.

Amendments to the federal law “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Military Duty and Military Service” were approved by State Duma deputies in the second and third readings at a meeting on December 14. The amendments allow military personnel and other categories of citizens to enter into short-term contracts. As noted in the document, the opportunity to conclude Such contracts “will allow us to quickly resolve short-term but important tasks related to participation in peacekeeping operations and the fight against terrorist and extremist organizations.” The law “applies to conscripted military personnel, as well as citizens who have expressed a desire to enter into a contract,” the document specifies , posted on the website of the State Duma of Russia.

Alexander Golts also drew attention to the fact that Ramzan Kadyrov stated that the leadership of Chechnya is not engaged in the formation of battalions to be sent to Syria.

““In this situation, the reliability or unreliability of this information about the sending of Chechen security forces to Syria is quite difficult to establish,” Alexander Golts told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

In turn, the president of the independent scientific center "Evgeniy Satanovsky in a conversation with a correspondent" Caucasian Knot“said that he does not trust the information about the sending of Chechen security forces to Syria. “However, only the Chechen leadership and those who are in special companies know for sure whether the police are really sent to Syria,” said Yevgeny Satanovsky.

The "Caucasian Knot" publishes news about the impact of the war in the Middle East on the situation in the Caucasus regions on the thematic pages "Syria on Fire" and "Caucasus under the Crosshairs of the Caliphate." In the "Directory" section, a certificate has also been prepared "Natives from the Caucasus in the ranks of the Islamic State" (recognized in Russia as a terrorist organization, activities prohibited by court decision).

This material was published on the BezFormata website on January 11, 2019,
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The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, commented on media reports that Chechen special forces units are being sent to Syria.

“Domestic media are circulating reports about the “sending” of “military personnel of the East”, “West” battalions and “Chechen special forces” to Syria. I declare with responsibility that there are no “East” and “West” battalions in the Chechen Republic. In Chechnya, as in any other region, units of the Russian Defense Ministry are stationed. Russian citizens from Chechnya and other federal subjects serve in them. It is well known that Russian troops are not taking part in the ground operation in Syria,” says a message on Kadyrov’s page in Instagram.

“At the same time, the Ministry of Defense has never made a secret of the fact that there is an airbase in Syria and its security is ensured by military personnel of the Russian Defense Ministry. They are rotated periodically. Some teams arrive, others leave. If the military units stationed in Chechnya ever receive an order to serve as the guard of an airbase in Syria, then they will have the happiest lot,” said the head of Chechnya.

“Back in 1999, the team of the first President of the Chechen Republic, Hero of Russia Akhmat-Hadzhi Kadyrov vowed to fight terrorists and Wahhabists, wherever they were. We have proven our loyalty to this oath with our entire lives. “I would be happy and proud to receive an order from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces and immediately go to Syria to fight evil spirits,” he said.

Earlier, information appeared in the media that military personnel of two special forces battalions (BSpN) “East” and “West” of the Russian Ministry of Defense, stationed in the Chechen Republic, will allegedly go to guard the Khmeimim airbase in Syria.

According to these data, at the end of November, “East” and “West” were reorganized into military police (MP) battalions and prepared to be sent to Syria. The personnel received red berets and VP shoulder badges. By the end of December, both military units will complete their deployment and begin protecting Russian military facilities in the Arab Republic.

A video of Chechen security forces in appropriate uniforms was published on the Internet.

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