23:48, 27 March 2025

Former Kadyrov’s critic leaves for SMO

Said-Khusein Magomadov, a blogger. March 27, 2025. Screenshot of a video https://t.me/gtrkvainah/18594

Said-Khusein Magomadov, a blogger, who had criticized Kadyrov, has appeared in a camouflage uniform in a video of a Chechen TV Company about sending fighters to the special military operation (SMO) zone from Grozny; the blogger has praised Chechen authorities for training fighters.

"Said-Khusein Magomadov, known for his provocative videos, has suddenly appeared in a story by the “Vainakh” State TV and Radio Company (STRC) as a Russian military serviceman," Tumso Abdurakhmanov*, a blogger, wrote in his Telegram channel.

The video with Magomadov was attached to a post calling for people to sign up to volunteer in Chechnya.

In March 2023, Said-Khusein Magomadov, a blogger, who lived in Austria and was known for his harsh criticism of Kadyrov, became one of the delegates to the Congress of Chechen People organized by the authorities in Grozny. In social media, Magomadov posted his photos with Chechen officials, as well as with Akhmed Zakaev's former ally Rubati Mitsaeva, who had earlier gone over to Kadyrov's side. Magomadov himself redirected his criticism from Kadyrov to Akhmed Zakaev. The transition of blogger Said-Khusein Magomadov from opponents of Chechen authorities to the camp of Kadyrov's supporters does not matter to the head of Chechnya, since the blogger's authority is small, analysts have noted.

In June 2021, there was an attempt to blow up Magomadov in Bregenz. He then treated the failed assassination attempt as a Chechen authorities’ political order. Earlier, Magomadov said that the impetus for blogging was the murder of Mamikhan (Anzor) Umarov. In his videos, the blogger criticized and insulted Ramzan Kadyrov and his parents by using foul language.

Let us remind you that Rubati Mitsaeva, who spoke on the side of Akhmed Zakaev, lived in Germany, but in October 2021, she asked Kadyrov to allow her to return to her homeland. Kadyrov assured that Mitsaeva and "others who left can return to Chechnya at any time." Mitsaeva returned to Chechnya on December 14, 2021.

On May 14, 2023, a video message was posted by Khusein Djambetov, a former Kadyrov’s critic, who voiced threats against those who present the situation in Chechnya as something other than what it really is. Djambetov returned to Chechnya, realizing his mistakes, Kadyrov said after meeting him.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 27, 2025 at 03:08 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot