Adam Delimkhanov

Who is Adam Delimkhanov?

Adam Sultanovich Delimkhanov is a Chechen politician who has been member of the Russian State Duma for the United Russia party since 2007.

A close associate and cousin of the pro-Moscow Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, Delimkhanov headed the police division that protected Chechen oil facilities from 2003 to 2006. He was appointed deputy prime minister overseeing security forces in 2006. The next year he was elected to the Russian State Duma on a Vladimir Putin-led United Russia party ticket.

A Chechen exile, Umar Israilov, murdered in Vienna in January 2009, had accused Delimkhanov of beating him in Kadyrov's presence. Delimkhanov declined requests for comment on the allegation. In April 2009, the Dubai police blamed Delimkhanov for having ordered the assassination of the former Chechen warlord and Russian military commander Sulim Yamadayev. Delimkhanov denied the accusation, saying it was a provocation directed to destabilize Chechnya and that he is preparing to sue Dubai police for libel.

As of April 2009, Delimkhanov — along with six other Russian citizens — is wanted by Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates, in connection with the murder of Sulim Yamadayev, via Interpol.