The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Russian occupied Chechen Republic of Ichkeria has published a press statement, and asked the Chechen mujahedeen to lay down their arms and return to civilian life.

“As a result of long term organized work of FSB agents in the Chechen Republic, a large number of persons, who were earlier involved in illegal armed groups decided to come back to a quiet and peaceful life with their families. We know that many illegal armed members gave up and are wishing to return to normal life. The authorities and law enforcement will help them, but the most important role is that of the relatives of these criminals. Their relatives pretend that they do not know anything about their children’s activities. Now we are providing you with a great opportunity to save your children. Thus we are asking your help for your state and people. Use this opportunity, another chance might not be given,” the statement says.

In the statement some names were also published. According to the statement, twelve young people, Beslan Makhauri, Ramadan Bataev, Ramadan Dundaev, Arbi Khabaev, Ramzan Makhauri, Beslan Khaykharoev, Bashir Magomaev, Mikail Musikhanov, Saykhan Kusuev, Apti Musakhadzhiev, Aslan Buytukaev and Shamil Osmaev, from the districts of Sunzha and Achkoi-Martan, are members of the Chechen mujahedeen.

A local human rights activist from the Russian occupied Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, who asked not to be mentioned by name, considered the statement as hosting mixed impressions. “On the one hand it seems to be a quite normal and understandable call to the ranks of illegally armed groups to return to normal life. However, on the other hand it overtly threatens not only the members of illegally armed groups, but also their relatives and close friends,” said the human rights activist. He believes that after this statement, in the near future repression against relatives and friends of the Chechen mujahedeen will begin openly.

*Text was translated by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco