Yamadaev's murder threatens with consequences for Chechnya's authorities, observers believe

The murder in Moscow of Ruslan Yamadaev, former deputy of the State Duma of Russia and a member of Yamadaev clan, which is in enmity with President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, can lead to serious consequences in Chechnya, some local observers assert.

So far, the main versions of Ruslan Yamadaev's murder are in redistribution of spheres of influence, interests of business and vengeance. The investigation does not find involvement of President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov in the crime to be among the main versions.

Earlier, Ruslan Yamadaev's brother named Isa said that Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov can stand behind the murder. As he said, their family "had information" that Kadyrov was preparing execution of the whole Yamadaev clan.

"Whoever stands behind this crime, it will be all the same ascribed to Ramzan (Kadyrov, - comment of the "Caucasian Knot")," one of local observers think. "In the latest months, a serious opposition, mutual threats and accusations were observed between Kadyrov and Yamadaevs. Kadyrov, who had earlier accused Yamadaev brothers of a series grave crimes, demanded from local law enforcement bodies to work with the "Yamadaevs' case" day and night, to establish, for what money they had bought smart houses and so on. In their turn, the latter were promising to make public the facts of illegal President's actions. Naturally, now everyone will think that Ramzan Kadyrov is behind the murder of elder Yamadaev, although I don't think it is so."

"On my deep belief, this murder was intended to destabilize the situation in the republic. Ramzan could have just been got in wrong in order to have a pretext for starting a wide-scale 'zachistka' (clean-up) in the top management of Chechnya," said the observer.

This opinion is shared by Aslambek Apaev, expert of the Moscow Helsinki Group for Northern Caucasus. "Ramzan Kadyrov is not guilty of what has happened. This crime was accomplished by special agencies, same as the recent murder in Ingushetia of President Zyazikov's cousin. The aim is the same - to destabilize the situation in the region and to have a pretext to start a new wave of mass repressions."