Dubai: Pro-Moscow Chechen deputy prime minister Adam Delimkhanov has been accused by the chief of Dubai Police of masterminding the assassination of a former commander of a Chechen battalion in Dubai last month.
Delimkhanov, who also represents Chechnya in the lower house of Russia's parliament, is a close aide and cousin of Moscow backed Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov.
Two of six suspects, an Iranian and a Tajik, are in custody for carrying out the assassination, said Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Chief of Dubai Police. The rest, three Russians and a Kazakh, are at large.
Lt Gen Dahi said the operation was a "settling of scores" which he called "cheap and dirty," adding that the police will seek the help of Interpol in arresting Delimkhanov.
He said Chechen authorities have not cooperated with the investigation, adding that "Russia is also responsible for untying the knot of this crime."
Sulim Yamadayev's killing is believed to be the first politically motivated slaying in Dubai and the latest in a series of assassinations targeting Chechen renegades in and outside Russia including the unsolved assassination of Sulim's brother Ruslan, last September.
"It is completely unacceptable for us to see political leaders using our country to settle internal conflicts. We will stand firm against anyone considering to jeopardise the safety and security of our country," said Lt Gen Dahi.
A decorated Moscow loyalist, Yamadayev had fallen out with Kadyrov after a previous alliance. Both had previously fought Russia and changed sides after the country's reinvasion of Chechnya in 1999. Kadyrov has denied involvement in the assassination.
- With additional inputs from agencies
By Siham Al Najami
© Gulf News 2009
