Chalaev threatened the residents of Chechnya with reprisals "without trial or investigation"

The commander of the special police regiment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs named after Akhmat Kadyrov, Zamid Chalaev, promised to "not be lenient" with the residents of Chechnya whom the security forces detain on suspicion of aiding extremists and militants.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the commander of the special police regiment Zamid Chalaev was sanctioned by the UK in September 2025; prior to that, he had already been included in the sanction lists of the USA and Japan. In October 2025, Chalaev showed on social media a collection of about 80 orders and medals, as well as a photo of himself taking a selfie with a killed militant.

Zamid Chalaev published several stories (temporary posts) on his Instagram* calling on the residents of Chechnya to stay home at night and not to give rides to unfamiliar people in their cars.

Chalaev announced a "no-compromise struggle against supporters and accomplices of extremism and terrorism," claims the official publication "Chechnya Today."

The agency presented its translation of Chalaev's video addresses recorded in Chechen into Russian. "If someone asks you in the middle of the night to take them somewhere, you should understand that it is not worth doing. Later, when you are arrested, the words that you have known them for a long time, knew nothing, and that you just took them will not hold. No one will be lenient with you!" – says the publication.

According to the official media, Chalaev warned the residents of the republic with the words: "If you don’t want to catch a bullet or face consequences, refuse those who ask you for a dubious favor and stay home." In the video, Chalaev says in Russian the phrase "without trial or investigation," however, it is absent in this translation.

Another translation of Chalaev's words was published by one of the opposition Chechen Telegram channels: "If someone takes a person, helps him, he will be shot without trial or investigation. Here, no one will be lenient with anyone."

One of the publications 1 also translated Chalaev's words as "we will shoot without trial or investigation." The phrase refers to people who, after being detained, explain their services to the alleged militants by acquaintance or that "it was inconvenient to refuse." "If you don’t want to be shot, stay home," follows from this translation.

With his stories, Chalaev effectively confirmed information from sources that security forces in Chechnya are conducting raids in search of alleged militants. Sources reported that patrols have been intensified in various settlements of the republic and on its borders, however, the authorities of Chechnya have not officially explained the active actions of law enforcement.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that on the evening of September 7, in the center of Gudermes, a man armed with a knife attacked a police officer and was wounded himself. After the attack, security forces began to detain his relatives and acquaintances. Residents interviewed by "Caucasian Knot" reported that the attacker had mental health issues. Official agencies of Chechnya did not comment on the incident; according to sources, law enforcement did not see any political motive or connection with the underground in the attacker’s actions.