Dubai: A Dubai Police official has once again denied reports that former Chechen commander Sulim Yamadayev was still alive, as claimed by his brother.
The claims re-emerged after a Dubai court recently sentenced a Tajik and an Iranian to life imprisonment for aiding and abetting the killing of Yamadayev in Dubai last year. Four other suspects remain at large.
"These ridiculous claims mean nothing to us at Dubai Police. Every once in a while Sulim's brother provides statements and photos that his brother is still alive for personal reasons," said Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Deputy Commander of Dubai Police, while confirming that Yamadayev was shot dead and that he was later buried in Al Quoz, Dubai.
A Moscow newspaper, Moskovsky Komsomolets, published a photo supposedly showing him recovering in a hospital and quoting his brother, Eisa, as saying: "He [Sulim] is in a good mood and we communicate regularly, mainly over Skype."
The photo shows a man with a carefully trimmed brown beard, lying on pillows and making a victory sign. It was provided by Yamadayev's younger brother Eisa, who said it was taken several weeks ago, the newspaper said.
