Alaudinov attacks critics of idea of "Akhmat" Children's Academy

Apti Alaudinov, the commander of the "Akhmat" Special Forces, has treated those who criticised the idea of the "Akhmat" People's Friendship Academy as "armchair heroes", suspecting them of having links with Ukraine and LGBT* people. Activists of the "Rusich" unit, commenting on Alaudinov's indignation towards "Russian nationalists", refused to apologize.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Dmitry Kuznetsov, a State Duma MP, said that the above "Akhmat" Academy can educate young people. Besides, he has stressed the importance of the participation of men from Chechnya and other regions of Northern Caucasus in educating youth throughout the country. In their turn, some Telegram users have objected that the Academy should not be created under the auspices of "Akhmat", since Russia is a multinational country; and the methods of the Chechen authorities and the example of Adam Kadyrov cast doubt on the successful upbringing of youth in Chechnya. Alaudinov has blamed opponents of the Academy idea as fascists.

An author of the channel was indignant at the "Akhmat" commander's words." "A submachine gun in my hands killed Russia's enemies when 'Akhmat' did not exist <...>, and many of its brave warriors had not yet decided whose side they were on," he wrote in his Telegram channel "Topaz Speaking", in response to Alaudinov's post; the author is a former fighter of the "Rusich" sabotage and scouting unit (the UK and USA have imposed sanctions against "Rusich" commanders. The US Treasury has called "Rusich" a "neo-Nazi paramilitary grouping," – note of the "Caucasian Knot").

Alaudinov has noted that if someone decides to launch an academy called "Rusich", that's their business, but the people "who pour dirt on 'Akhmat' are "not Russian nationalists."

Ramzan Kadyrov has also stated that he did not understand why Kuznetsov's proposal to create the "Akhmat" People's Friendship Academy caused "a lot of negative reaction."

*On November 30, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation declared the movement an "extremist organization" and banned the "international public movement of LGBT people". With this decision, the court satisfied the claim of the Russian Ministry of Justice, sent to the court on November 17, 2023.