Chechen Diaspora sees Russian trace in Khangoshvili's murder in Berlin

The murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a native of Pankisi, is political and was organized by special services of the Russian Federation, members of the Chechen Diaspora assert. Khangoshvili had great authority among Pankisi residents, local residents have noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 23, Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a veteran of the second Chechen war was shot dead in Berlin. Special services of several NATO countries do not exclude the involvement of Russian agents in this crime, German media have reported.

Khangoshvili was a field commander during the Chechen war, said Ali Viskhadjiev, the head of the Chechen Diaspora in Istanbul and the director of the organization named "Kavkazder".

"Zelimkhan Khangoshvili was a well-known person; he had serious authority among Chechens in Georgia," Mr Viskhadjiev has stated.

Khusein Iskhanov, a representative of Ichkeria abroad, has noted that the Chechens who have received asylum in Europe are not in safety.

Ekkehard Maas, a rights defender and the head of the German-Caucasian society in Berlin, has noted that Khangoshvili had survived several assassination attempts and constantly received threats.

Mr Maas has added that there are pretty plenty pro-Russian Chechens in Germany.

Givi Targamadze, a former chairman of the Georgian Security Council, has emphasized that Khangoshvili was not a radical Islamist.