Sulim Yamadayev, former head of the Chechen special battalion Vostok, was buried Tuesday in Dubai, where he fled during a recently concluded feud with Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, his family said.
Sulim was buried in Dubai at the request of his family, who live in the Gulf city, his brother Isa said, RIA-Novosti reported.
Earlier reports said Sulim Yamadayev’s body might be transported to his hometown of Gudermes, but only a funeral ceremony in absentia was held in the Chechen city, Kommersant reported.
Sulim Yamadayev was shot in Dubai in March 2009. Local police said he was killed, but Isa Yamadayev has repeatedly claimed that he survived and was only taken off life support at the request of his family Monday.
After the feud between the Yamadayevs and Kadyrov started in 2008, two of the six Yamadayev brothers were killed and a third, Isa, survived an attempt on his life. Kadyrov has denied involvement.
Kadyrov and the Yamadayevs reconciled last week after the Chechen president agreed to punish people involved in the killings of Sulim and Ruslan Yamadayev and to allow the clan to rebuild its Chechen business, allegedly worth tens of millions of dollars, Moskovsky Komsomolets reported, citing sources in the clan.
Kadyrov, who faces reappointment next year, also agreed to pardon the youngest of the Yamadayev brothers, Batrudi, currently wanted by federal authorities on charges of kidnapping, the daily reported. The Chechen president’s representatives declined to comment Tuesday.
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