Chechen Units Accused of Looting in Russian Border Region
By Elizaveta Chukharova
Locals in a Russian border village, Novaya Tavolzhanka in Belgorod’s Shebekino district, have accused soldiers from the Chechen Akhmat unit of looting several homes and threatening residents with weapons. According to a Telegram channel, Pepel, Chechen fighters were allegedly involved in looting on April 9th, entering Grazhdanskaya Street with vehicles displaying “Akhmat” instead of license plates. Residents reported the soldiers broke into houses and garages, stealing appliances and generators, and responded aggressively to attempts to stop the activity.
Residents reported the incident to the police and via radio, prompting the arrival of military police. However, sources for Pepel indicated the military police did not intervene, citing fear of the soldiers. Several residents have temporarily left the village, confirming the accounts of those remaining.
One resident reported being struck with the butt of a rifle while attempting to document the looting. The village is located near the border with Ukraine and has experienced frequent shelling and prior reports of theft and looting. Concerns have been raised about the actions of soldiers, including those with criminal backgrounds, and the lack of response from authorities.
No arrests or formal proceedings have been reported as of April 26, 2024, according to Pepel editor Nikita Parmenov. The Akhmat unit, subordinate to the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya), has been involved in military operations in Ukraine. Previous incidents involving Chechen soldiers, including those linked to Rosgvardiya, have been reported, such as robberies in Kursk and Mariupol, and the discovery of stolen agricultural machinery in Chechnya.
Residents of the Belgorod region have long voiced concerns about security and looting, with Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov acknowledging multiple incidents and reporting them to military police. Despite these reports, formal investigations have been lacking. The situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding security and accountability in border settlements.
The keywords in this article are: chechen, looting, accused.
Topics: #chechen #looting #accused
