Former Maskhadov Defense Chief Speaks To Media

On April 28 the Strana.ru website published a detailed interview with Magomed Khanbiev, the former minister of defense of the underground Maskhadov government. (In previous reports in the Russian media his surname has been spelled “Khambiev,” but he made a point of insisting to Strana.ru that the correct spelling is “Khanbiev.”) The defector to the Kadyrov administration met Strana.ru in the presence of Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen strongman’s son, and most of what he said was predictable. But at the very end of their meeting, according to the website, the following exchange took place:

“As we were walking to the exit and descending the staircase, Khanbiev answered one question without witnesses. ‘How are you living now? Is nobody disturbing you?’ Khanbiev answered very quietly. ‘I am building a house in the suburbs of Gudermes, in the “Druzhba” settlement. So far I am living normally. Nobody is bothering me. So far…”