Former Sulim Yamadaev's deputy kidnapped by men in masks

Magomed Taisumov, former deputy of Sulim Yamadaev, commander of the special-purpose GRU battalion "Vostok" (East), assassinated two years ago in Dubai, was beaten at kidnapping.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that Magomed Taisumov, former deputy commander of the "Vostok", was kidnapped yesterday, on March 28, near the village of Novogrozny, Gudermes District of Chechnya. This became known to close friends of the Yamadaev family. Taisumov is a close relative of the Yamadaevs.

"The car driven by Magomed was stopped by a group of armed persons, who travelled in two Lada Priora cars. Some of them were dressed in black military uniform, others - in sporting suits; all of them were in masks. They tried to force Magomed into one of their cars, but Taisumov resisted. When people began coming up running to the venue, the kidnappers opened fire at their feet and over their heads, not allowing them to come closer. Then they hit Magomed on his head with a machinegun butt; and when he fell down, they pushed him into one of their cars and fled," said the source.

The source has added that Major Magomed Taisumov took part in many combat operations of the "Vostok" battalion against militants in Chechnya, and in South Ossetia during the events of August 2008.

"Of course, he might have enemies among bandits; however, this kidnapping was organized by entirely different people. These were surely law enforcers, moreover, local ones, I'm sure," said the source, but could not specify any possible motives of the kidnapping.

The republic's law enforcement bodies refused to comment, referring to lack of confirmed information and applications from relatives of the kidnapped person.