Chechen authorities hold their own mourning events for Temirkhanov

On August 7, the commemoration of Yusup Temirkhanov, organized by the authorities of Chechnya, was attended by much fewer people than his funeral, local residents have stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that tens of thousands of people came to Temirkhanov's funeral in the village of Geldagan, including from Ingushetia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and Georgia.

On August 7, the "Grozny" TV Channel showed a report on Temirkhanov, narrating about Kadyrov's role in the return of Temirkhanov's body to his homeland, and the participation of Chechen authorities in his fate. The authors of the report noted that the authorities held a large-scale religious rite in Geldagan.

Observers considered the actions of the Chechen authorities as a desire to intercept the initiative.

"For a day and a half, authorities kept silent about Temirkhanov's death ... Now, they are trying to make a good face for a bad game," said Aslambek, an NGO activist.

The attitude of Chechen authorities and population to Temirkhanov's death caused serious controversy, the author of the blog at the "Caucasian Knot" under the nickname "BERG...man Tbilisi" believes.

"Kadyrov's statement is very interesting, and contradicts the words of patriotic Chechens, who treat Temirkhanov as a hero. According to Kadyrov, he was not at all involved in killing Budanov; and the tragedy is that Yusup is an innocent victim!" wrote the blogger.