Authorities declare Chechen fighters in Syria to be volunteers

In the rear of the "Islamic State" (IS), not the Chechen spetsnaz (special troops) are operating, but just "self-organized groups of young people," who "risk their lives and suffer losses," representatives of the republic's leadership have admitted. Chechen volunteers are in a difficult situation in Syria, according to contradictory statements by Ramzan Kadyrov, and the data of the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Kadyrov said that Chechen spetsnaz is operating in Syria in the rear of the IS militants.

According to Vladimir Komoedov, Chairman of the Defence Committee of the Russian State Duma, the Parliament "knows nothing about the participation of Chechen spetsnaz in warfare in Syria," the Radio "Echo Moskvy" has quoted.

No Russian army servicemen or MIA (Ministry of Internal Affairs) policemen are among the group of natives of Chechnya, who operate in the rear of the IS, said a source in the republic's leadership, adding that Chechen volunteers "present themselves as IS supporters."

Not a single law enforcer from the Chechen Republic is in Syria and Iraq, said Alvi Karimov, the press secretary of the head of Chechnya.

After Kadyrov's words, the territory controlled by the IS will see a total check of all Chechen natives, suggested a retired officer of the Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (known as SVR).

Meanwhile, the "Novaya Gazeta" writes, citing its own sources, that about 20 former servicemen of the battalion "Sever" (North), sacked last October, could have been sent to Syria.

On December 2, 2015, the IS posted a video depicting an execution of a man, who was presented as a native of Grozny, who had collaborated with Russian secret services; the video also contained threats to authorities and people of the Russian Federation.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.