GROZNY, February 17 (Itar-Tass) —— A gang of warlord Magarbi Timiraliyev was destroyed in the highlands in eastern Chechnya in a special operation. All seven gunmen, who put up armed resistance, were destroyed, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, who is staying in the area of the special operation, told reporters on Friday.
“The special operation is on against gunmen on the administrative border between Chechnya and Dagestan already for several days. The whole previously blocked gang of seven gunmen was destroyed in the shootout. They put up armed resistance to the police, servicemen of the Interior Troops, security services and were killed in the retaliatory fire,” Kadyrov said. Some 13 gunmen were destroyed in the special operation.
The Chechen president noted that the special operation is being carried out together with the law enforcers from Dagestan. The special operation will not end with the destruction of the foresaid bandit group, Kadyrov said. Chechen law enforcers will continue to assist and support their fellow law enforcers from Dagestan, where two gangs are being chased down.
The Chechen leader noted that the mission is to mop up the highlands from remaining gunmen.
“The construction of a tourist centre was launched, no bandit with weapons in hands should be left in the highlands. We offered for a long time to lay down arms and surrender to the authorities, face the trial, because this is better for them than to be destroyed. Many of them responded to this appeal. Those, who did not want to hear, made their choice themselves ended their lives in the inglorious way,” Kadyrov said.
The backbones of a special operation are policemen and servicemen of the Interior Troops, “which came not on the orders, but voluntarily and enlisted in the special task forces.” “These young people committed a real feat, rooting out one of the cruelest and bloody gangs,” Kadyrov noted.
Kadyrov emphasized that he took a firm policy for a close cooperation between relevant agencies in Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia in order “to deprive gunmen of the possibility to commit crimes in one region and escape in another region.”
Kadyrov stated with regret that the police sustained some losses.
“Unfortunately, our brothers-in-arms have some losses. They will be awarded with high governmental medals,” he stated. The Chechen president also recalled that the families of killed and wounded policemen received the necessary aid.