Researchers of Caucasus announce failure of Kadyrov's attempts to eradicate blood feud

A murder of an entrepreneur by a Chechen law enforcer cannot be attributed to traditional blood feud, but now relatives of an entrepreneur can themselves take the path of revenge, say natives of Chechnya. The concept of blood feud continues to exist in Northern Caucasus amid assurances from the Chechen authorities about reconciliation of blood enemies, notes Akhmet Yarlykapov, a researcher of the Caucasus.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 12, a Chechen law enforcer shot and killed a businessman, who in 2015 shot dead a relative of the policeman. Then it was announced that the conflict between the families had been resolved.

A cousin or a second cousin, or any other member of the tribe (teip or clan), cannot assume the function of an avenger, said Kyuri, a Chechen. "For that reason, the murder is difficult to classify as 'blood feud'," he explained.

According to Abdulla, a resident of Grozny, in 2015, relatives of the murdered businessman admitted that their man who shot first was to blame and the second man shot to protect himself, so there was no reason for blood feud.

"The incident that happened in Grozny was a murder ... And now relatives of the murdered guy can declare blood feud against relatives of the murderer," Abdulla explained.

"Blood feud has always been and it exists now. We will inevitably face a new round of blood feud when Kadyrov is removed," the resident of Grozny added.

The concept of blood revenge will exist till the country has no regular political field, believes political analyst Alexei Malashenko.

According to him, in case of a power change, a new round of blood feud can take place between Ramzan Kadyrov's supporters and his opponents.