I was interested to see what information filters back into Russia .
This is what is actually going on and represents the actual Internet chatter .It seems quite possible that the appearance of this new Black Hawk group is definitely an anti Islam  group and could well be an FSB Death Squad or a group of people close to the FSB whose actions have been unofficially sanctioned by Moscow .Or , at minimum , are "seen" by Moscow with closed eyes .

Most of you have probably heard about a mysterious  group  which triggered a lot of internet talks as well as questions among people. The mysterious 'Black Hawks - Anti Wahhabi' group The group should not be mistaken with the  other well known 'Black Hawks', but from Moscow. The Black Hawk group of Moscow was composed of young nationalists students of Caucasian origins, who specifically fought Russian Skinheads in street battles, just as the Russian Skinheads target specifically young Caucasians. This was the first organized Caucasian 'gang', specifically created as a reaction to the racist violences committed by ethnic Russians. Some commentators pointed similarities between them and the U.S Black Panthers. Some of their 'battles' were filmed and posted on YouTube, you can see them shouting Allahu Akbar while attacking two Russians in the Moscow metro. Photos of them making the sign of Tawheed (imitating the Mujahideen) are available online. Most of their members were arrested after this, and one of them was assassinated by the 'Russian Nationalist Militant Organization' (abbreviated BORN in Russian) which also claimed the responsibility of the infamous beheading of two Tajik Muslims, in December 2008) which made the news in the recently, in the United Province of KBK of the Caucasus Emirate.

The first 'action' carried out on behalf of this group in KBK Province, occurred on Feb 5, when 4 molotov cocktails were thrown at the Astemir Mamishev's home family in Nalchik, at 3 o'clock in the morning (local time). Astemir is a 22 years old Mujahid, his name is on the Federal wanted list. Newspapers and local media presented him as the one who executed the so-called 'Republic Mufti' Anas Pshikhachev, on Dec 15. A threat letter - in which was written: 'If your son kills another resident of the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, you will be destroyed' - was found later, signed on behalf of the 'Black Hawks - Anti Wahhabi'.

Here, it must be mentioned that the Astemir's family never encouraged nor praised the choice of their son to join the Jihad. His family has no contact with him since two and half a year, when he 'left for the woods' in fall 2008. In an interview, his mother Marina, said that they even disowned him but that she still loved him as her son. She said that she fears that the growing pressures on his family could push her two others sons to join the Mujahideen.

It is reported that leaflets 'urging people to fight against religious dictatorship' and signed by the same group, were disseminated on the territory of the 'Republic'. Some believe that the murder of Ilyas Tramov on Feb. 17 in Nalchik, could be possibly one of their crimes.

Until recently the groups had no online 'existence' i.e. no internet website, but on February 11, a video message showing a masked man (apparently armed with an Ak-74U) threatening the Mujahideen on behalf of the 'Black Hawks', was posted at the account of an anti-Mujahideen member of YouTube. In the video, the masked man makes the daring promise 'to put an end to the Islamic underground'. He addressed directly to Emir Abdullah (ha), accusing him to 'kill his own people for Dokku Umarov, who has betrayed his people'. He said: 'There is a 2 million reward for you, but it's useless, we will kill you for free'. And he added: 'Never in the history, an Adyge or a Balkar was subordinated to a Chechen'. Then he named Mamishev and Shameyev (the real surname of Emir Zakari), and warned: 'We are on your trail and the reprisal will be short'.

The official version of the authorities tells that the attack was perpetrated by relatives of killed policemen/members of the security forces, seeking revenge, but unable to attack the Mujahideen directly. Others think that they could be actually members of security forces, but operating independently, out of the 'laws', to avenge their fallen 'comrades'. Since  for many years  across the whole Muslim Caucasus, it's well known that the Mujahideen's relatives faced harassment of all kinds from the 'authorities' and the so-called 'law enforcement structures' but so far, it's the first time that such  an - apparently 'independent' - group has  appeared.

But a lot of people suggest that the group could be a kind of death squad, carrying the (really) dirty work (i.e. assassinations, provocations, intimidations, etc...) for the FSB. Kanokov, the so-called 'President of the KB Republic' announced himself on Feb 1, that pressure must be put on the families of the Mujahideen, and he said a phrase which could be interpreted as an implicit warning: 'Of course, we're not going to burn down houses in the places [fighters] were born, like they do in Chechnya.... But if [parents] have given birth to a monster, then they should answer for it, not the state.' And he added more explicitly: 'If they haven't brought up their children right, let them also take responsibility. Someone is running around in the forest, while his relative works in a shop. That can't go on; we will find measures for that.'

As we reported earlier, he also advocated the idea that 'young sportsmen should be armed to form local anti-Islamist militia units'. It's hard to not see a coincidence between his speech and what occurred after it. Is this speech was a kind of green light for a state-related group? Or did encourage some independent people to 'take actions'? One could argue that such destabilization is not beneficial for Kanokov but, since the whole 'Republic' is already 'on fire', the use of a kind of death squad to terrorize people probably doesn't looks a so bad choice for him.

One thing is sure, prior this statement, no similar group was ever reported in the 'Republic'... And this attack occurs when Kanokov and his servants are in a particularly difficult position due to the intense activities of the Mujahideen in the whole KBK territory. By the way, this so called leader showed little interests in meeting the families of the Mujahideen, as they requested , after the attack at Astemir's home.

But the FSB proved in the past that they didn't need any proxy groups to commit their crimes. So why now? On the other hand, as we said, the 'KBR law enforcement structures' are facing a peak of activities from the Mujahideen. So, such kind of reprisals, carried out by 'mysterious criminals', are quite convenient, since the blame cannot be put automatically on the 'law enforcement structures' nor on the FSB. The reprisals can be waged without any official excuses (i.e. without the obligation to justify anything before the 'Russian laws') and it avoid them to be held accountable (which occurs rarely) or harassed by NGO's like Memorial.

Finally, let's point the reference to the 'Balkar and Adyge never subordinated to a Chechen'. If it's really a nationalist reference (as some people suggest) it's quite odd, since the Adyge (Kabardian) and the Balkars are two separated people. There is no 'Kabardino-Balkar nationalism', there are two separate and antagonist nationalism, one Adyge and the other Balkar. Of course it's useless to mention that these views are not shared by the Mujahideen which strive for unity among Muslims against the invaders.

This attempt to turn people against the Mujahideen was taken seriously by the Province's leadership. The latest Omra, or decree, issued on Feb. 6, by Emir Abdullah (ha) is, without a doubt, connected to these new developments. The coming days and month will show if this 'Black Hawk' gang poses a real threat and should become a subject of concerns. The fact that their first attack looks 'amateurish' (though it was dangerous and potentially deadly) doesn't preclude the potential dangers of such people, whoever they are.

Meanwhile, as it is mentioned in the Omra, measures were ordered to protect the Muslims from criminals who claim to be 'on the side of the people'. The Mujahideen proved in the past that they were able to deal with such people. It must be recalled that the KBK Mujahideen enjoy an effective Mukhabarat network. It allowed them to strike precisely on specific targets in the past (and by the way, this precision avoided unnecessary civilian casualties). So, Insha'Allah these crimes will not remain unpunished. And those who dare to challenge the Mujahideen on this ground should be prepared to face the consequences of their actions.