Caucasian Mujahideen in Emirate Caucasus are planning to hit economic targets and are getting arms and money funneled secretly by sympathizers in Kremlin-backed local puppets, according to the brother of Moscow's most wanted Mujahid.
Vakha Umarov bears a striking resemblance to his brother, Doku Umarov, the Emir of the Emirate Caucasus. He proclaimed a pan-Caucasus, Sharia-based state separate from Russia.
The Amir of the Caucasian Mujahideen Doku Umarov has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in Russia, including last November's Russin elite train bombing between Moscow and St Petersburg which killed 26 top Russians in politics, business and economy.
His brother Vakha Umarov, who has lived in Istanbul since 2005, denied he was part of the Jihad but said he had regular contact with his brother and tends six of his children.
Umarov's words offer a rare glimpse into his brother's intentions. The Emir of the Emirate Caucasus is believed to be hiding in the mountains in Chechnya and very rarely gives interviews.
"All the money used (on the Jihad) is from Chechnya. Weapons are not bought," Umarov told Reuters in an interview on in an office building on the outskirts of Istanbul.
The Kremlin views the Caucasus Jihad as fraught with perils in a vast country stretching from the Pacific to the Baltic coasts. It also poses a danger for energy transit routes.
After two Russian-Chechen wars with Moscow since the mid-1990s, Chechnya now rests on a shaky peace. Chechen puppet of Russians Ramzan Kadyrov, has repeatedly said total calm will come once Doku Umarov is dead.
Doku's brother said: "The weapons are collected from Kadyrov's forces ... Kadyrov's ministries give out money to the Mujahideen."
He added that the weapons and money feeding the Jihad across Russia's North Caucasus region, which includes Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan, come from those who claim loyalty to Kadyrov, but who are hedging their bets in case of a power shift in the region.
"It's like an investment for the future, when all this is over, they can (tell the rebels) 'I was on your side all along,'" said Umarov, shortly before he interrupted the interview to pray.
A spokesman for Kadyrov refused to comment.
Umarov said there were around 3,000 Mujahideen in Chechnya and a total of 5,000 throughout the North Caucasus.
Umarov disputed suggestions the Jihad had links to al Qaeda.
He confirmed Doku's pledge from August 2009, after his Mujahideen claimed responsibility for a Siberian dam destruction that killed 75, to launch an economic war on Russia.
A statement on the Kavkaz Center last August said fighters had been sent across Russia for attacks that would focus on gas and oil pipelines, power plants and electricity lines.
"Of course there are plans for more attacks. He wouldn't speak if he didn't have plans to back himself up. I know him," said Vakha, who spoke in Russian during the interview.
"If he's said it once he won't need to say it again."
Umarov said he helps Chechen refugees in Turkey, many of whom fled because of war and who number approximately 1,500.
Some of the young sons of Chechen refugees are lured to fight in the Jihad, he said. Every year an average of 10-15 returned from refugee families across Europe and Turkey.
Detained last year by security officials in Istanbul, they told him to leave the country for his own safety, but Umarov decided to remain in Turkey.
Three Chechen Mujahideen were gunned down in Istanbul over the past year and a half by the Russian terrorist organization FSB and Vakha said the police made it clear Turkish authorities did not want to deal with another killing.
Turkey has improved ties with Russia in previous years, especially in the energy sector, with Moscow providing Turkey some 60 percent of its gas needs.
But Umarov said he planned to stay in Turkey unless called back home to fight.
"I'm not needed there yet," he said.
Source: Reuters
Kavkaz Center
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