Law enforcers treat report about Chechen militants in Philippines as fake

A report about Chechen natives, fighting in the Philippines, is false, and "no Chechen militants have ever been there." This was reported by an officer of the Chechen law enforcement agencies. He has noted that the law enforcers have data about natives from Chechnya, who are fighting in Syria and Iraq on the side of Islamists.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 1, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Philippines reported the deaths of militants from Chechnya. The number of 95 militants killed in an attempt to occupy the city of Maravi also included foreigners from Chechnya and several Arab countries, reports Delfin Lorenzana, Defence Minister of the Philippines.

"There are ethnic Chechens in the ranks of Islamist groups in Syria and Iraq. According to our information, there are about 700 of them, including 500 involved in combat operations and 341 put on the international wanted list," said an official from the Chechen law enforcement agencies.

Local observers have also expressed their doubts about the involvement of Chechen natives in the hostilities in the Philippines.

"This is not Syria, where people can safely get through Turkey, like some natives of our republic have done," noted an NGO leader.

"The Philippines is an insular state. It is hard for me to imagine how Chechen militants could get there. This is most likely an informational throwing from the military forces of that state to show that they are also combating international terrorism," believes Aslanbek, a member of another NGO.

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