Kadyrov's blood revenge threat deepens Russian power struggles
The Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, accused three Russian deputies of planning his assassination and threatened them with 'blood feud', which in Chechen culture implies killing an enemy or a male member of their family - Reuters.
Kadyrov's conflict with politicians erupted over the merger of Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries, and the advertising company Russ Group. The dispute was further fuelled by a family quarrel involving the Bakalchuk couple. Tatyana Kim, the founder of Wildberries and the richest woman in Russia, filed for divorce from Vladislav, a minority co-owner of the company, who opposed the merger.
In September, there was an attempt to forcibly take over the Wildberries store in Moscow, during which at least one person died and several were injured. Ten people were arrested, including an MMA fighter and the deputy commander of the Chechen Akhmat unit, Umar Chichaev. Two people have been charged with murder.
Vladislav Bakalchuk, one of the accused, allegedly sent armed attackers to invade the company headquarters. They confronted armed security guards. The attack occurred very close to the Kremlin.
Ramzan Kadyrov sided with Bakalchuk and described the Wildberries and Russ Group merger as asset theft.
Kadyrov accuses
During a Wednesday meeting with security officials, Kadyrov announced that three deputies from regions neighbouring Chechnya planned to kill him. Among them was said to be a wealthy senator from Dagestan, Suleyman Kerimov, accused by Vladislav Bakalchuk of taking over Wildberries.
Kadyrov threatened that if these deputies do not prove they do not intend to kill him, he will "officially declare a blood feud".
Russian media assess that the conflict over Wildberries has turned into mafia-like feuds involving key political figures, reminiscent of those in the 1990s.
Kadyrov supports Vladislav Bakalchuk, whereas Russian President Vladimir Putin sided with his wife, Tatiana Kim. In a letter to Putin, Tatiana argued that her decisions, often against her husband's objections, could create a competitive company on a global scale. Putin, in response, ordered it to 'be done', as later confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov - reports the Russian portal 'Forbes'.
