On Wednesday, June 9, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested Ali Taziyev, a North Caucasus warlord known as Magas.
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© Public Relations Center of the Federal Security Service
On Wednesday, June 9, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested Ali Taziyev, a North Caucasus warlord known as Magas.
Taziyev was caught off guard with no time to react, and no FSB officers were injured during the operation.
The decision to arrest the militant was made as soon as his identity was confirmed.
Ali Taziyev is a leader of an armed militant group known as the Caucasus Emirate.
The radical was taken into custody and escorted to Moscow.
He was charged with three crimes: organizing an illegal armed group, armed rebellion and illegal gunrunning.
The fact that Ali Taziyev was taken alive is a success story for the Russian security force, civil rights activists believe, as he will have to stand trial for his crimes.
“This operation is a major achievement for the security forces. I would not like to see the media asserting Taziyev's guilt before the trial because in a rule-of-law state, that Russia hopefully is, every man, whatever he is detained for, should have the right of defense. It is an opportunity for Russia to appear as a state where, as our president said, the law dominates in society,” Maksim Shevchenko, a member of the Public Chamber, said.
Ali Taziyev and Shamil Basayev (killed by the FSB in 2006) were behind an attack in Nazran in 2004…
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© Photo : Public Relations Center of the Federal Security Service
… as well as blowing-up two international buses in the Stavropol Territory and kidnapping relatives of former Ingush President Murat Zyazikov.
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© Photo : Public Relations Center of the Federal Security Service
Taziyev is also believed to have been involved in an attack against Ingush President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and the bombing of the Interior Ministry in Nazran in 2009.
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© Photo : Public Relations Center of the Federal Security Service
Ali Taziyev’s arrest will unsettle the militant group in the region, believes Alexander Torshin, first vice-speaker of the Federation Council and member of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
