Akhmed Zakayev, the head of the exiled government of the Republic of Chechnya, Ichkeria, does not agree with the opinion that Chechen businessman Aslanbek Akhmetkhanov and his companions, who freely entered Georgia and traveled in a convoy for several days, represent the opposition of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
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“As far as I am familiar with the situation in Chechnya, this person is not Kadyrov's opposition. In general, today, there is no official opposition, because people who say that they do not agree with the occupation structures do not survive for long and disappear. These people though, swear loyalty to Kadyrov.
Therefore, I am sure that there is no opposition to Kadyrov in Chechnya today, and the people who crossed the border to Georgia are Ramzan Kadyrov's people,” said Zakayev in an interview with Pirveli TV.
Akhmed Zakayev is sure that the authorities of Georgia received an instruction from Russia to grant permission to these people to enter Georgia:
“Unfortunately, Kadyrov and his entourage are part of the occupation structures of the Chechen Republic. Russia has occupied our territory and installed its administration, and those who are in power in Georgia today are, in my belief, under a very serious influence of Russia.
I am sure that this group of people, with four cars and armed, crossed the Georgian-Russian border only after a request by Russia to the Georgian authorities, or demand, as you like. You know that it is not possible to simply cross the border without permission, and permission can only be granted at the highest level of the leadership, and Russia may have just hinted about it to the Georgian government... I think this is a clear indication that both Kadyrov and those in power in Georgia, who are being ordered to let certain people across the border, have one boss and he is sitting in the Kremlin.”
Recently, Aslanbek Akhmetkhanov, an influential Chechen businessman and a known high-ranking organized crime figure, his son - three-time Russian boxing champion Rokhman Akhmetkhanov, and members of their close circle were in Georgia. A Mercedes with Russian number plates and its escort were spotted in Tbilisi and Batumi. A video circulating on social media shows Aslanbek Akhmetkhanov, who is likely accompanied by his security, getting into a car with license plate O 777 OC 77. Citizen Khatuna Maghlakelidze writes that she recorded the video on May 26 in Tbilisi. The fact that the car belongs to the Chechen businessman is confirmed by the videos published by his son, Rokhman Akhmetkhanov, on his Instagram account.
Akhmetkhanovs and his affiliates likely arrived in Georgia two weeks ago. It is at this time that Rokhman Akhmetkhanov published a video where a convoy of luxury cars with similar number plates is parked on the freeway. On May 22, the Instagram page related to the Akhmetkhanovs published a video shot on the Gudauri road.
It is not known who accompanied Akhmetkhanov to Georgia, except for his son. Most likely, they have already left Georgia and moved to Turkey. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia does not comment on this issue.
Members of the Georgian government are denying that Akhmetkhanov and his crew are “Kadirovians:. The regional secretary of the Georgian Dream party and member of the parliament, Dito Samkharadze stated that the deposed mayor of Grozny and the businessman arrested by Kadyrov had been to Georgia along with some friends.
