Tumso Abdurakhmanov faces new threats from Kadyrov's retinue

The YouTube video hosting service has posted a new message addressed to the blogger, Tumso Abdurakhmanov, from the person who presented himself as a Kadyrov's fellow villager, Khusein Mezhidov. He insults the blogger and states that he is ready to respond for the latter's death, even from an accident. The residents of Chechnya interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have stated a serious threat to Abdurakhmanov.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that top-ranking Chechen officials held a discussion with blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov. On March 9, Magomed Daudov, Speaker of the Chechen parliament, announced blood feud against the blogger for his statement about Akhmat Kadyrov.

On April 24, the "Info Chechen Info" channel of the YouTube posted a video "Commander of Kadyrov's 'Yug' (South) Battalion threatens to torture Tumso Abdurakhmanov".

At the end, the author of the message introduced himself as Khusein Mezhidov and gave his address; he also called himself a Ramzan Kadyrov's "brother" and fellow villager. The man with that name, a fellow villager of the head of Chechnya, for several years was in command of the "Terek" SOBR (Special Direct-Action Regiment) Training Centre located in the patrimonial village of the head of Chechnya.

In his appeal, the author insults Tumso Abdurakhmanov; he suggests to "tear away" the blogger's tongue, and declares his readiness to respond for the blogger's death, if his relatives would look for someone to declare the blood feud to him.

This statement addressed to Tumso indicates a serious threat looming over his head, the residents of Chechnya interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent believe.

"Tumso has become a real headache for our authorities, it's obvious. He says what had never been spoken aloud before. No wonder they are trying to shut him up by all means," said Ramzan, a resident of Chechnya.

In the opinion of Svetlana Gannushkina, the head of the Civil Assistance Committee, the threats to Abdurakhmanov from Chechen high-ranking officials should result in the refusal to extradite the blogger to Russia.

"If we talk about the international law, such actions undertaken by Kadyrov and his retinue should make the justification for a ban to extradite the blogger to Russia. But, unfortunately, in Europe, Abdurakhmanov cannot feel safe, because the influence of Kadyrov's entourage has spread over the whole world," Ms Gannushkina has noted.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 29, 2019 at 02:13 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.