Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has publicly accused three Russian politicians – Suleiman Kerimov, Bekhan Barakhoyev, and Rizvan Kurbanov – of plotting his assassination and orchestrating a hostile takeover of Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer.
Kadyrov’s allegations have heightened tensions in the ethnically diverse North Caucasus region, particularly between Chechnya and Dagestan, which have a history of conflict.
“There is a serious discussion in Russia that it could lead to a war between Chechens and Dagestanis,” warned Anton Gerashchenko, a former Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser.
The conflict stems from a deadly armed raid at Wildberries’ Moscow office on September 18, resulting in two deaths and several injuries.
Kadyrov linked the incident to Kerimov and the other politicians, claiming they didn’t just use the incident as an excuse to take over Wildberries from its own Tatyana Kim, but went ahead to “even put a contract on me to have me killed.”
Local leaders in Ingushetia call for calm, urging residents to avoid retaliatory actions and warn against provocateurs. The situation there is delicate, with Kadyrov continuing to defend his position.
At the same time, tensions simmer between Chechens and Ingush communities—a serious headache for the Kremlin and the world, which desperately needs a stable Russia in the face of the current global geopolitical crisis.
Chechen forces have been an important strategic component of the Russian Army in the war with Ukraine.
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