Russia's deputy Chechnya head poisoned by substance sent in envelope

The deputy head of the Chechen Republic was poisoned last Wednesday when he opened an envelope containing a hazardous substance, Chechen Republic head Ramzan Kadyrov said Monday morning.

Apty Alaudinov, who was also “commander of the Akhmat special forces and deputy commander of the 2nd Army Corps,” would recover and was not in a life-threatening situation and received treatment at a clinic in Moscow, he said.

Alaudinov received an envelope from an aide. After opening the letter, he understood from a caustic smell that he had been exposed to a hazardous chemical. He quickly washed his hands and nasal cavity and received immediate treatment from medical specialists.

Samples of the poison were taken for analysis, and an investigation into the assassination attempt was opened, Kadyrov said.

Alaudinov received the order of Hero of Russia

Kadyrov has been a major proponent of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Chechen forces have been at the forefront of the fighting. Alaudinov received the order of Hero of Russia in August.

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service on Monday said the US military was recruiting Islamic State and al-Qaeda terrorists to commit attacks in Russian and allied countries, Russian News Agency TASS reported. They were being trained at an American base in Syria, it said.

“In the near future, it is planned to carry out the transfer of militants as part of small groups to the territory of Russia and the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States],” TASS reported. “They will be tasked with preparing and carrying out terrorist attacks against diplomats, civil servants, law enforcement officers and personnel of the armed forces.

“Being obsessed with the crazy idea of ‘bleeding’ Russia, Washington strategists consider it acceptable to directly use terrorists for their dirty purposes. Such actions put Washington on a par with the largest international terrorist groups.”