Movladi Atlangeriyev
Encyclopedia
Movladi Atlangeriyev is a reputed Chechen mafia
boss and founder of the so-called Lazanskaya crime group, known by the nicknames "Lord", "Lenin" and "The Italian". He was forcibly disappeared
by unknown armed men in January 2008 in Moscow
.
Atlangeriyev was perhaps the best known of the alleged Chechen
crime boss
es of the early 1990s. He was said to have been working with Khozh-Ahmed Noukhayev to organize Moscow's fragmented Chechen groups into a unified gang
.
In the early 2000s Atlangeriyev reportedly cooperated with the Russia
n security services
in their dealings with Chechen separatists
. The state agency RIA Novosti wrote in 2008 that "in recent years, former Chechen criminal group leader Atlangeriyev had cooperated with Russian law enforcement
authorities." According to Kommersant
, Atlangeriyev "took very active part in counterterrorist
activities in Chechnya" and played a crucial part in the federal seizure of the city of Gudermes
at the beginning of the Second Chechen War
, for which he received Order of Honour and was given a pistol, reportedly by Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) head Nikolai Patrushev himself.
In April 2007, Kommersant wrote that Atlangeriyev and his son went to London
, where he reportedly received a call on his mobile phone
asking him to visit the office of the exile
d Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who allegedly wanted to "discuss business
matters with him"; Atlangeriev was, however, seized by Scotland Yard
in front of Berezovsky's office and later deported
. In July 2008 the British
special services say a Russian agent was arrested during a June 2007 attempt by Russian security services to assassinate
Berezovsky and subsequently deported from Britain was an ethnic Chechen man known as "Mr. A".
On January 31, 2008, Atlangeriyev was reported to be seized at gunpoint in central Moscow by two men of Caucasian appearance; no ransom
demands had been received. In early February, Moscow prosecutors opened a criminal case into the kidnapping
. They also said the case could be linked with the investigation into the 2006 murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya
.
After the kidnap Movladi Atlangeriyev was taken to Chechnya and then killed.
Chechen mafia
The Chechen mafia is one of the largest organized crime groups operating in the former Soviet Union next to established Russian mafia gangs, which originally consisted of criminals of Chechen ethnicity who later also tried to recruit former Russian special military forces, police and army officers...
boss and founder of the so-called Lazanskaya crime group, known by the nicknames "Lord", "Lenin" and "The Italian". He was forcibly disappeared
Forced disappearance
In international human rights law, a forced disappearance occurs when a person is secretly abducted or imprisoned by a state or political organization or by a third party with the authorization, support, or acquiescence of a state or political organization, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the...
by unknown armed men in January 2008 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Atlangeriyev was perhaps the best known of the alleged Chechen
Chechen people
Chechens constitute the largest native ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus region. They refer to themselves as Noxçi . Also known as Sadiks , Gargareans, Malkhs...
crime boss
Crime boss
A crime boss or boss is a person in charge of a criminal organization. A boss typically has absolute or near-absolute control over his subordinates, is greatly feared by his subordinates for his ruthlessness and willingness to take lives in order to exert his influence, and profits come from the...
es of the early 1990s. He was said to have been working with Khozh-Ahmed Noukhayev to organize Moscow's fragmented Chechen groups into a unified gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
.
In the early 2000s Atlangeriyev reportedly cooperated with the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n security services
Security agency
A security agency is a governmental organization which conducts intelligence activities for the internal security of a nation. They are the domestic cousins of foreign intelligence agencies...
in their dealings with Chechen separatists
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria is the unrecognized secessionist government of Chechnya. The republic was proclaimed in late 1991 by Dzokhar Dudayev, and fought two devastating wars between separatists and the Russian Federation which denounced secession...
. The state agency RIA Novosti wrote in 2008 that "in recent years, former Chechen criminal group leader Atlangeriyev had cooperated with Russian law enforcement
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
authorities." According to Kommersant
Kommersant
Kommersant is a commerce-oriented newspaper published in Russia. , the circulation was 131,000.- History :The newspaper was initially published in 1909, and it was closed down following the Bolshevik seizure of power and the introduction of censorship in 1917.In 1989, with the onset of press...
, Atlangeriyev "took very active part in counterterrorist
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
activities in Chechnya" and played a crucial part in the federal seizure of the city of Gudermes
Gudermes
Gudermes is a town in the Chechen Republic, Russia, located on the Sunzha River east of Grozny. Population: 32,000 .Gudermes had a rural locality status until 1941. Later, it became a railroad junction between Rostov-on-Don, Baku, Astrakhan, and Mozdok. Gudermes is home for oil extraction...
at the beginning of the Second Chechen War
Second Chechen War
The Second Chechen War, in a later phase better known as the War in the North Caucasus, was launched by the Russian Federation starting 26 August 1999, in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade ....
, for which he received Order of Honour and was given a pistol, reportedly by Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) head Nikolai Patrushev himself.
In April 2007, Kommersant wrote that Atlangeriyev and his son went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he reportedly received a call on his mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
asking him to visit the office of the exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
d Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who allegedly wanted to "discuss business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
matters with him"; Atlangeriev was, however, seized by Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
in front of Berezovsky's office and later deported
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
. In July 2008 the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
special services say a Russian agent was arrested during a June 2007 attempt by Russian security services to assassinate
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
Berezovsky and subsequently deported from Britain was an ethnic Chechen man known as "Mr. A".
On January 31, 2008, Atlangeriyev was reported to be seized at gunpoint in central Moscow by two men of Caucasian appearance; no ransom
Ransom
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.In an early German law, a similar concept was called bad influence...
demands had been received. In early February, Moscow prosecutors opened a criminal case into the kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
. They also said the case could be linked with the investigation into the 2006 murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya
Anna Politkovskaya
Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya was a Russian journalist, author, and human rights activist known for her opposition to the Chechen conflict and then-President of Russia Vladimir Putin...
.
After the kidnap Movladi Atlangeriyev was taken to Chechnya and then killed.