Tumso Abdurakhmanov, a Chechen opposition blogger and critic of Ramzan Kadyrov, whose disappearance and murder was reported by the media and several Telegram channels in December 2022, contacted human rights activists. This is reported by Novaya Gazeta Europe with reference to the Chechen human rights association VAYFOND, which operates in Sweden.
According to representatives of the organization, they do not know exactly where the activist is currently and they have no information on the circumstances of his disappearance. A spokesperson for the association, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, said Abdurakhmanov had called human rights activists “to clarify certain legal points and allowed them to announce that ‘he was alive’.
“We assume that he himself can hardly comment on anything now because of the secrecy. He is alive and cheerful. Soon everyone will see him, I think he himself will get in touch with everyone, “said the source.
Abdurakhmanov’s disappearance became known at the end of 2022 – the blogger stopped contacting human rights activists and journalists. December 3 in the telegram channel “Ichkeria: Heroes, Enemies and Traitors” appeared report on Abdurakhmanov’s murder. At the same time, the authors of the publication noted that the sources of this information are “unofficial and of a low level of confidence”.
Later, the pro-Russian channel “Kavkaz Front” was job a video showing a Chechen allegedly hospitalized with gunshot wounds. Russian military telegram channel “Rybar” on the night of December 3 without links to sources informed that, “apparently, the activist was indeed killed.”
Vayfond then said they had no information about Abdurakhmanov’s death, but noted that the organization’s representative, Mohmad Abdurakhmanov, who is the blogger’s brother, “also unexpectedly and without explanation did not is no longer available through all contacts”.
The press secretary of the Chechen European Assembly, Shamil Albakov, said in turn that it could be the murder of a man who lived next to the activist. At that time, there was no information about Abdurakhmanov’s murder in law enforcement reports in Sweden and local media.
On December 5, the Chechen opposition channel Telegram 1ADAT*, quoting a “network of informants from Europe and Chechnya” and Radio Liberty**, wrote that the blogger was allegedly shot dead in Sweden by a group of people in the night of December 1 to 2. On the same day, the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported that local police have not confirmed reports of Abdurakhmanov’s murder or disappearance.
Four days later, Kavkaz.Realii** published a commentary from the press service of the so-called government of the self-proclaimed “Chechen Republic of Ichkeria” abroad, which stated that the activist was alive and in the Swedish police protection. . At the same time, the reasons why the Swedish police would have kept the blogger under protection were not specified.
Tumso Abdurakhmanov is known to criticize the Chechen authorities, he is a supporter of independent Ichkeria. In his YouTube videos, he spoke about human rights violations and abuses committed by officials in Chechnya. In 2015, he left Russia. He claimed this was due to a conflict with Ramzan Kadyrov’s nephew, Islam. In 2021, Abdurakhmanov was granted political asylum in Sweden.
In December 2021, Abdurakhmanov reported that Chechen security forces abducted several members of his family. Kadyrov said these were rumors spread by European bloggers who “support terrorism”.
* the Adat movement is recognized in Russia as an “extremist organization”, its activities are not prohibited
** the publication is registered by the Ministry of Justice of Russia in the register of foreign agents
