On January 30-February 5, five persons killed in armed conflict in Northern Caucasus

During the week of January 30-February 5, 2017, seven persons fell victim to the armed conflict in Northern Caucasus. Of them, five persons were killed, and two others were wounded. These are the results of the calculations run by the "Caucasian Knot" based on its own materials and information from other open sources.

The death toll includes three suspected members of the armed underground and two law enforcers, all of them in Chechnya.

Attacks on law enforcers

On January 30, in the town of Shali in Chechnya, militants shelled policemen and threw a grenade after the policemen offered to produce documents. As a result, Police Sergeant Ali Muslimkhanov, a staff member of the Division for the Shali District of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), and Islam Yakhadjiev, an inspector of the post-and-patrol service (known as PPS) of the MIA's Department for the city of Grozny, a native of Shali, died. Besides, two civilians were killed. In the course of the shootout, three attackers were killed, including Shali residents Yunus Mukaev, Sidik Dargaev, and Beshto Emediev, who were led from Syria by Magomed Rashidov, a native of Shali and a recruiter of the "Islamic State" (IS), banned in Russia. After that, relatives and friends of suspected militants were detained. Since January 11, the whereabouts of Movsar Rashidov, who disavowed his son Magomed in the presence of Ramzan Kadyrov, is unknown. According to relatives of Movsar Rashidov, he was kidnapped by law enforcers.

Special and counterterrorist operations

On January 31, the counterterrorist operation (CTO) legal regime was introduced within the administrative boundaries of the Kvanada village council (including the villages of Kvanada and Gimerso) of the Tsumada District of Dagestan. Law enforcers were engaged in searching for militants and their accomplices. On February 4, the CTO legal regime was lifted.

Detentions

On January 30, in Chechnya, two persons were detained on the charge of selling weapons. One of them is charged in arranging in his house a workshop for transformation and manufacture of firearms and components thereof.

On January 31, in the Shelkovsky District of Chechnya, law enforcers detained seven local residents who intended to leave for Syria to join the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS), banned in the Russian Federation. Family members of the detainees argue that young people were not going to leave for Syria, but just discussed religion and the situation in Syria.

Kidnappings

On January 23, in Grozny, law enforcers detained Sunzha residents Kyuri Aliev and his son Anzor Aliev and demanded that Shamil Aliev, the second son, born in 1994, would come to the Sunzha ROVD (District Interior Division). Earlier, Shamil Aliev served a year in prison for aiding and abetting militants. On January 24, Kyuri Aliev returned home, and Anzor stayed at the ROVD as hostage. Law enforcers threatened to "declare Anzor a terrorist" and place him in prison for a long time. On February 1, the Aliev family members were "visited by people from Chechnya, who wanted to take Shamil away with them." The Aliev family members called the police. Unidentified people were detained. However, they claimed that they "came to visit relatives in Ingushetia," and after that they were released. When leaving, those people threatened Bulikhan Alieva to take her other children away with them if Shamil failed to come to Chechnya. On February 2, unidentified people called Kyuri Aliev and threatened that "in case if the Aliev family members persisted in their decision, the body of Anzor would be returned to them." On February 3, Anzor Aliev was released after the intervention of the Russian Ombudsman's administration.