MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax) - The Russian National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) has confirmed the killing of Aslan Byutukayev, whom it described as a Chechen militant leader who played a role in the 2011 bomb attack at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, along with four other militants.
"Among those who have been neutralized is gang leader Byutukayev, who was involved in the organization of the terrorist attack at Domodedovo Airport in 2011, as well as some other terrorist crimes," the NAC said in a statement on Wednesday.
Updated reports indicate that a total of five militants were killed in a special operation in Chechnya, the statement said.
Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov said earlier on Telegram that six militants, including Byutukayev, had been eliminated in a special operation conducted by Chechen police.
The Russian president has been informed of the operation and its results, and the operation participants will be awarded, Kadyrov said.
Earlier reports said Byutukayev led a so-called forest jamaat. Along with terrorist leader Doku Umarov, who was neutralized earlier, Byutukayev was implicated in a criminal case opened into the Domodedovo Airport terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of 37 people. Following the explosion, Umarov and Byutukayev issued a video claiming responsibility for plotting the terrorist act.
It was reported in March 2011 that Byutukayev might have been killed during a security operation in Ingushetia, but this information was not confirmed at the time. The Russian Investigative Committee charged Byutukayev with setting up a stable armed group and a criminal community.