The missing Chechen singer Zelimkhan Bakaev was probably killed

Chechen singer Zelimkhan Bakaev, who disappeared without a trace in 2017, was probably killed by law enforcement officers. This is stated in the investigation of the IC SOS Crisis Group.

Bakaev was being monitored due to suspicion of homosexuality, human rights activists believe. The singer spent most of his time in Moscow and did not believe that they could kill him. Bakaev stayed in Russia due to the need to take care of his sick mother.

According to the interlocutor of the organization, his former partner informed about Bakaev. He also lived in Moscow and had connections with law enforcement agencies in Chechnya.

When information about Bakaev’s homosexuality reached the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, he allegedly ordered to “deal with” him. Kadyrov was personally acquainted with the singer, shook his hand and considered homosexuality a personal insult, says “SK SOS”.

According to human rights activists, the artist was questioned for a long time before his death. The Chechen authorities denied their involvement in Bakaev’s disappearance, and human rights activists linked his disappearance to the “hunt for gays”. The authors of the investigation are sure that the singer’s body was handed over to the family.

• After the disappearance of Zelymkhan Bakaeva, his mother filed a complaint with the police asking for help in the search for her son, but this did not bring results.
• On September 24, 2017, ChGTRK “Grozny” published information on its website that Bakaev was in Germany. As proof, Goskanal’s website posted a video with the singer. On this video of Bakaev, who allegedly left for another country, journalists found furniture and a drink sold only in Russia. Human rights activists also received a response from the European Commission, which confirmed that the singer had not entered Europe.