According to the telegram channels of the Chechen opposition, as well as the Russian Baza, “Caution, News” and a number of others, in Dagestan, the head of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for Chechnya, Alikhan Tsakaev, was detained for driving while intoxicated.

The Radio Liberty project writes about the detention of Tsakaev “Caucasus. Realities”, announced the NIYSO movement and the opposition Chechen blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov. According to them, the car driven by Tsakaev was stopped at the Dagestan checkpoint “Gerzelsky Bridge” on the border with Chechnya.

Tsakaev allegedly did not stop at the request of the traffic police officer, turned around at the intersection and tried to run over the police. Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan detained the driver, who showed signs of severe intoxication and did not have documents with him. Baza and “Caution News” publish video of the arrest. Baza writes that the incident occurred on April 14. Soon after the arrest, Tsakaev was released, both telegram channels reported, without specifying details.

Journalists “Caucasus. Realities” tried to geolocate the location where the video was recorded and, judging by the initial analysis, it was indeed filmed at the Gerzelsky Bridge federal checkpoint in Dagestan.

According to Gulagu.net, the source of which is not specified, after Tsakaev’s arrest, 11 cars from Chechnya, including three traffic police cars, arrived at the Gerzel checkpoint. Among those who arrived, the telegram channel claims, was Abuzayd Vismuradov – commander of SOBR “Akhmat”.

“During a scuffle with threats to use weapons, Kadyrov’s men forcibly took the detainee and took him away, obviously exceeding official authority and threatening to kill employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs while on duty,” writes Gulagu.net, adding that the Dagestani police were beaten, but have not yet made claims for this about.

The car driven by Tsakaev was also taken to Chechnya, sources say. According to one of the Chechen opposition bloggers, writes “Caucasus. Realities”, this SUV is wanted by Interpol Canada.

Official representatives of the authorities of Chechnya and Dagestan, as well as the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not comment on the reports of the incident at the time of publication of the note.

Alikhan Tsakaev, remind “Caucasus. Realities”, in 2007-2019 he headed the Chechen riot police (in particular, the high-profile case of kidnapping of Islam Umarpashaev — approx. “Jellyfish”) and allegedly personally took part in the torture. Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov repeatedly called Tsakaev “dear brother”, and in May 2007 awarded him the highest award of the republic – the Order named after Akhmat Kadyrov.