Chechen leader Kadyrov claims Russian deputies out for blood
The Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has accused three Russian deputies of plotting his assassination and has threatened them with 'blood feud.' In Chechen culture, this means killing the enemy or a male member of their family, according to Reuters.
Kadyrov's conflict with politicians began over the merger of Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries, and the advertising company Russ Group. The situation was further complicated by a family dispute involving the Bakalchuk couple. Tatiana Kim, the founder of Wildberries and Russia's wealthiest woman, filed for divorce from Vladislav, a minority co-owner of the company, who opposed the merger.
In September, an attempt was made to forcibly take over the Wildberries store in Moscow, resulting in at least one death and several injuries. Ten people were arrested, including an MMA fighter and Umar Chichaev, the deputy commander of the Chechen Akhmat unit. Two people were charged with murder.
Vladislav Bakalchuk, one of the accused, allegedly sent armed attackers to invade the company headquarters. Armed security guards met them. The attack occurred near the Kremlin.
Ramzan Kadyrov sided with Bakalchuk, calling the Wildberries and Russ Group merger an asset theft.
Kadyrov accuses
In a Wednesday meeting with security officials, Kadyrov announced that three deputies from regions neighboring Chechnya were planning to kill him. Among them was reportedly a wealthy senator from Dagestan, Suleyman Kerimov, accused by Vladislav Bakalchuk of taking over Wildberries.
Kadyrov threatened that if these deputies do not prove they are not planning to kill him, he will "officially declare a blood feud."
Russian media suggest that the conflict over Wildberries has escalated into mafia-like feuds involving key political figures, reminiscent of those from the 1990s.
Kadyrov supports Vladislav Bakalchuk, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has sided with Tatiana Kim. In a letter to Putin, Tatiana argued that her decisions, often against her husband's objections, could create a globally competitive company. Putin, in response, ordered it to 'be done,' as later confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Russian portal 'Forbes.'
