Analysts discuss versions of poisoning Chechen general Alaudinov

People from his entourage may be behind the attempted poisoning of Chechen general Apti Alaudinov, human rights defenders, Oyub Titiev and Svetlana Gannushkina*, have pointed out. Vasily Dandykin, a military expert, has suggested that the assassination attempt could be organized by the Ukrainian intelligence.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Ramzan Kadyrov informed about an attempt to poison Alaudinov. According to Kadyrov, an Alaudinov's adjutant received an envelope with a letter soaked in some poisonous substance. The head of Chechnya promised to avenge the attempted poisoning.

Oyub Titiev, a rights defender, has doubted the official version of the poisoning. "The method of poisoning by means of a letter has not been used for a long time, as it is considered artisanal. There are more modern methods. The reports that he had felt the smell and liquidated the letter are causing a smile. This is implausible," Mr Titiev has stated.

Even if there was a poisoning attempt, it could be committed by people from Alaudinov's entourage, he has suggested. The failed poisoning could be a reason for promotion, the human rights defender has noted.

A similar opinion was expressed by Svetlana Gannushkina*, a human rights defender and the head of the "Civic Assistance" Committee*. "He has ruined lives of so many people that it is not surprising that someone tried to kill him with a letter soaked in poisonous substance. These are just their methods," she has noted, adding that the poisoning attempt is now used for Alaudinov's promotion.

In his turn, Vasily Dandykin, a military expert, has no doubt that there really was an attempt to poison the general. "I admit that this was done by his enemies from Ukraine ... But it was done in an artisanal manner, since the letter had such a specific smell that the addressees immediately felt it," he has stated, adding that the method of poisoning by means of a letter "is very old, but has always been used."