FSB General Mikhailov: “All the skeletons in his closet will definitely be pulled out”
Khussein Dzhambetov, who fought against Russia as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a special operation, not only went over to the side of the Russian Federation, but already freely moving around the capital of Chechnya. The appearance of a former Zakayevite accused of sabotage in the early 2000s raises many questions. «MK» tried to understand the situation.
It is known that Dzhambetov, a native of the Chechen city of Urus-Martan, emigrated to Belgium in his youth, after a criminal case was opened against him in Russia in 2003 for participating in sabotage. Dzhambetov took part in both the first and second Chechen wars on the side of the separatists. And in the first Chechen war he was only 13 years old.
In Belgium, he traded in halal meat, and at the same time was recruited into the “Government of Ichkeria” (an organization recognized as terrorist and banned in Russia) by Akhmed Zakayev. After the start of the special operation, Dzhambetov joined the leadership of the terrorist Separate Special Purpose Battalion of Ichkeria as part of the Foreign Legion of Terodefense of Ukraine. The battalion was created by Akhmed Zakayev on July 29, 2022. There, Dzhambetov not only recruited Chechens into the Ukrainian army, but also participated in hostilities against the Russian Armed Forces.
The motive to leave the ranks of the Legion, simultaneously shooting former colleagues, Dzhambetov explained by Kyiv's encroachments «on Chechen honor and blood.» Allegedly, several fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a conversation told how they shot the wounded soldiers of the Akhmat battalion. In response, Dzhambetov opened fire on them, killing one and wounding three.
In the fall of 2022, demoted from the majors of the Ukrainian army, he left for Europe, then moved to Turkey, at the same time leaving Zakayev’s organization due to disagreement with his policies. Abroad, he managed to establish contacts with his small homeland. Dzhambetov's former associates, in response to his return to Chechnya, called him «unhealthy».
Now Dzhambetov swears allegiance to the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. According to him, he is ready to carry out any of his orders. Dzhambetov even spoke to the fighters of the Chechen battalion «Akhmat», and after all, such an opportunity falls far from everyone.
As you know, today Chechnya is a region where Russian fighters of absolutely different nationalities are recruited and professionally trained to participate in a special operation. The local leadership is actively assisting the Ministry of Defense in carrying out the NMD, having outlined a clear and uncompromising position towards the Kyiv regime and its supporters. That is why it is at least strange to see a former terrorist and «Veseushnik» with a bloody past in the capital of Chechnya, and even more so in the location of the Akhmat special unit, even considering the radical change in his position.
In the former environment of Dzhambetov as one one of the versions of what is happening is the possible use of his recent colleague as a “double agent”, who, among other things, can, while in Chechnya, collect various information about Kadyrov.
It is known that Dzhambetov has been prosecuted in Russia since the autumn of last year for creating a separate Chechen battalion in the Armed Forces of Ukraine under several points of the criminal article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Assistance to terrorist activities”. Retired FSB Major General Alexander Mikhailov shared with MK his view on the apparently difficult background surrounding Dzhambetov's return to Russia.
— There are big doubts about its usefulness. We have many other people who are of great use. However, people in the Caucasus are wise and cunning, and they calculate many things. Considering the psychology and mentality of these people, I think that they will perfectly understand whether Dzhambetov is a double agent and whether he can be used. From the position of Moscow, without knowing the full amount of information, it is difficult to judge this.
— I am deeply convinced that everything that happens on the territory of Chechnya is approached with sufficient care and caution. All Dzhambetov's «skeletons in the closet» will be unequivocally pulled out when they are discovered.
— This will be done by the prosecutor's office and the Investigative Committee. Here we have to look at the political situation. Often we consider what is happening not through legal practice, but through political expediency. Sometimes political expediency is more pragmatic and useful in terms of subsequent effects than blindly following certain legal principles.
I note that with regard to Dzhambetov, it is not yet entirely clear what will happen to him next. This situation can develop in completely different ways.