Chechnya: Kadyrov says Islamic State's leader from Georgia killed
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 13 November 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Chechnya: Kadyrov says Islamic State's leader from Georgia killed, 13 November 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/548ea89111.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
November 13, 2014
By RFE/RL
Tarkhan Batirashvili (aka Umar al-Shishani) held "top military positions" within Islamic State and led "a number of attacks" over the past several years, the U.S. Treasury Department's statement says.
The head of Russia's Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, says one of the leaders of the Islamic State, Tarkhan Batirashvili, has been killed.
Kadyrov wrote on Instagram on November 13 that "it will happen to anyone who threatens Russia and the Chechen nation."
Kadyrov's statement did not offer any details, and there was no confirmation of Batirashvili's death from other sources.
Batirashvili, known in the Middle East as Umar al-Shishani, is an ethnic Chechen from Georgia's Pankisi region.
In September, the United States placed Batirashvili on a list of individuals it accuses of working with extremist organizations to provide financial and material support to terrorist fighters in Syria.
Batirashvili held "top military positions" within Islamic State and led "a number of attacks" over the past several years, the U.S. Treasury Department's statement said then.
In the past, Kadyrov's statements about deaths of Islamic insurgency leaders in the North Caucasus turned out to be wrong.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
