10:48, 12 December 2017

Chechen law enforcers refuse to stop searching for singer Aza Bataeva

Military vehicles in the streets of Grozny. Photo by Akhmed Aldebirov for the "Caucasian Knot"

Pop singer Aza Bataeva was left in the wanted list on suspicion of involvement in Syrian armed formations, since information about her death reported by the singer's relatives had not been confirmed. This was reported by a source of the "Caucasian Knot" from the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

On December 8, the singer's relatives reported that in September, Aza (Khazan) Bataeva was killed in Iraq. About two years ago, the singer with her husband left for Turkey and from there she moved to the territory controlled by the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS) banned in Russia.

Khazan Bataeva performed under the pseudonym Aza, and later AZiA. In 2008, her song "Lonely Rain" was included in the shortlist of the "Eurovision" song contest. In April 2016, social networks wrote that the singer joined the IS.

Evidence of the wanted person's death must be "100% confirmed," stated a source from the Chechen MIA.

According to Petimat, a teacher of a school in Grozny, rumours about the Aza Bataeva's death appeared about two months ago.

"People discussed that she allegedly died when the US military forces were bombing the city of Mosul, where family members of the militants mainly lived," confirmed a member of a local NGO.

"Like a normal person, I am sorry for her. Her songs were very popular," the woman noted.

Hundreds of wives and children of North-Caucasian natives could be killed during the bombings of Iraqi Mosul, suggested Aslan, a member of a Chechen NGO.

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

Source: CK correspondent