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Kadyrov mentions surname of suspect in financing of Grozny terrorist attack organizers

Competent authorities have information that Western special services’ money from Akhmad Umarov was handed to gunmen by a person named Kalyapin

MOSCOW, December 10. /TASS/. The head of the Russian North Caucasus republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, on Wednesday mentioned the surname of a person suspected of financing the organizers of a recent terrorist attack in the Chechen capital Grozny. 

On his page in a social network, Kadyrov wrote: “Competent authorities have information that Western special services’ money from Akhmad Umarov was handed to gunmen by a person named Kalyapin. It needs to be checked whether this Kalyapin has to deal with it.”

At about 01:00 a.m. Moscow Time on December 4 (22:00 UTC December 3) a group of unknown assailants riding in three cars attacked a traffic police checkpoint in Grozny. Then militants penetrated the Press House where republican newspapers, web publications and offices of federal media are based, and a school in the city center.

Law enforcers blocked the buildings, and a counterterrorism operation was launched. Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) told TASS December 4 that “10 militants were neutralized as a result of the counterterrorism operation in Grozny.” Ten law enforcers were killed and 28 wounded in the special operation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin highly assessed the organization of the counterterrorism operation conducted in Grozny. The Russian president said December 4 the killed police officers who faced the gunmen acted like heroes.

“We will never forget the names of killed comrades, the names of heroes and will have to provide all necessary aid to the families of those killed and support those affected,” Putin said at a meeting with Kadyrov. 

Kadyrov assured Putin that practically all necessary assistance has already been provided, but the president still asked him to attentively address the issue.

The Chechen leader said the militants had planned large-scale terrorist attacks in the republic.

Russia’s law enforcement agencies continue fighting militants in the North Caucasus over 13 years since the battle phase of the second war against Islamist separatists in Chechnya came to an end in 2000. Attacks on security officials and civilians occur from time to time in the region.