Murder of Suleimanov to split "Imarat Kavkaz"

After the murder of Magomed Suleimanov, the "Imarat Kavkaz" (IK) will suffer a split, while the positions of the "Islamic State" (IS) in Northern Caucasus will strengthen, said the experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot"; they suggested that the strengthening of the IS may be beneficial for power agents.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 11, the Russian National Antiterrorist Committee (NAC) announced the killing of Magomed Suleimanov, who headed the IK since April 2015.

The "Imarat Kavkaz" has virtually ceased to exist, said Yana Amelina, the Secretary-Coordinator of the Caucasian Geopolitical Club.

The "Imarat Kavkaz" has long conducted no terror acts. This is due to the depletion of the organization by power agents and to the fact that IK members go to the Middle East to fight for the IS," Yana Amelina, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to Geidar Djemal, the Chairman of the Islamic Committee of Russia, power agents are liquidating those leaders of the armed underground, who "stick to the concept of the autonomy and independence of the IK," while the organization as such is drifting towards the "bayat" (oath) to the IS.

The expert believes that "power agents aim not to destroy the bandit underground, but change its format."

"Power agents are interested in the advent of the IS to Northern Caucasus, since it is the largest terrorist organization in the world, against which the US are fighting. Therefore, Russian law enforcers will be able to claim some collegial cooperation with secret services of NATO and the United States," said Djemal.

In his turn, Alexei Malashenko, a member of the Scientific Council of the Moscow Carnegie Centre, did not rule out a possible split within the IK.

"One part of the IK will be a part of the IS, while the other one won't be so noticeable. But it won't disappear. The Caucasus won't allow its armed underground to be completely under Arabs," said the expert.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.