Chechnya’s leader Kadyrov accuses Russian MPs of murder plot, threatens ‘blood feud’

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov accused Russian lawmakers from neighboring regions of plotting his assassination and has issued a warning of a “blood feud” unless they can prove otherwise, according to state news agency TASS. Kadyrov made the allegations during a meeting with Chechen security officials, as reported by TASS.

Accusations against Russian lawmakers

Kadyrov, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, named three members of Russia’s legislature – two from Dagestan and one from Ingushetia – as being involved in the alleged assassination plot. TASS cited Kadyrov as saying, “There are witnesses, there are people from whom they tried to commission, whom they asked how much they would take for the order.”

Kadyrov warned that unless the lawmakers provide evidence to counter the accusations, he would declare a traditional Chechen “blood feud,” a form of revenge where an enemy or their male relatives are targeted.

Historical tensions and personal background

Kadyrov, who has a history of territorial disputes with Dagestan and Ingushetia, made the accusations public via his personal Telegram channel. Once a Chechen independence fighter in the 1990s, Kadyrov switched sides to support Moscow and became the leader of Chechnya in 2007 after his father’s assassination.

Ongoing feud and political ramifications

While TASS provided translations of Kadyrov’s remarks, Reuters was unable to verify the exact content of the statements. Kadyrov’s allegations add another layer of tension to the complex relationships between Chechnya and its neighboring regions, and could have broader political implications in the Russian Federation.