US congressman announces Akhmed Chataev's involvement in IS

Akhmed Chataev, a suspected organizer of the terror act at the airport of Istanbul, occupied a high position in the terrorist grouping "Islamic State" (IS), banned in Russia. This was stated by Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Committee on National Security of the US House of Congress Representatives.

Since 2003, Akhmed Chataev is wanted by the Russian law enforcement bodies, which called him the European agent of Doku Umarov (the leader of the "Imarat Kavkaz", banned in Russia, who was declared by militants as dead on March 18, 2014, note of the "Caucasian Knot").

"We believe that he (Akhmed Chataev) coordinated the three suicide bombers in Istanbul," stated Michael McCaul as quoted by the CNN TV Channel.

Michael McCaul has also noted that Akhmed Chataev "may be 'the enemy number one' in Northern Caucasus in Russia."

Let us remind you that in 2012, Akhmed Chataev was detained in the course of the special operation conducted in the Lopota Gorge; however, in January 2013, the court of Tbilisi acquitted him.

In his turn, Mikhail Saakashvili, the former President of Georgia, has stated that in Georgia, some politicians had recognized Akhmed Chataev as a political prisoner.

Two terrorists involved in the terror act at the Istanbul airport had Russian passports issued in the names of Rakim Bulgarov and Vadim Osmanov, the agency "DHA" reports with reference to a source.

Meanwhile, in Istanbul, the police continue detaining people, including natives of Dagestan, Chechnya, and Azerbaijan, on suspicion of involvement in the terror act.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.