Verdict in case on Khangoshvili’s murder does not make Chechen migrants feel safer

Today, a verdict against Vadim Krasikov, a citizen of Russia, found guilty of murdering Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, came into force. A court in Berlin stressed that an order for the murder had come “from the state bodies of Russia.” According to the Zelimkhan Khangoshvili’s family and members of the Chechen Diaspora abroad, critics of the authorities from among the Chechen migrants still face danger.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in October, a witness identified a person accused of the murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili as Vadim Krasikov, an employee of the Russian special services. On December 15, a court in Berlin sentenced Vadim Krasikov to life imprisonment.

Members of the Chechen Diaspora do not feel protected after the verdict. According to Kazbek Umarov, a native of Chechnya, seeking asylum in Europe, this is not the first time when a murderer of a Chechen opposition leader is sentenced to life imprisonment. “In recent years, more and more activists from Chechnya criticize the Russian authorities, and this is very annoying for the power,” Kazbek Umarov said.

On August 6, a court in Austria found Sarali Akhtaev, a native of Chechnya, guilty of murdering blogger Mamikhan Umarov, also known as Anzor from Vienna, criticizing Ramzan Kadyrov. Sarali Akhtaev was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Abdulla Takhanov, a native of Chechnya, who lives in Berlin, also does not hope for the safety of Chechens abroad. “At first glance, the sentence is very tough, but it was passed by Germany solely to protect its state interests. I don’t feel safe, as there are enough murderers in any country,” Abdulla Takhanov said.