Did controversial Kazakh oligarch Kenes Rakishev supply armored vehicles to Chechen soldiers in Ukraine?

The Kazakh oligarch Kenes Rakishev has been linked to an armored vehicle recently spotted in the hands of Chechen troops invading Ukraine.

The self-styled venture capitalist is estimated to be worth $950 million and seven years ago he helped to set up a factory in Kazakhstan that produces Arlan Marauder (MRAP) vehicles.

One of these military vehicles was seen in the bombarded Ukrainian city of Mariupol in early April. It was being driven by Chechen forces loyal to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

Rakishev is close friends with Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, who has previously described the oligarch as his “dear brother”. This close relationship with Kadyrov has prompted speculation that Rakishev may have been instrumental in supplying the armored vehicle to the Chechen troops.

The Marauder armored vehicle was designed by the South African defense company Paramount Group but the version photographed in Ukraine was constructed by Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering, a joint venture between Kazakhstan Engineering and the Paramount Group.

Kenes Rakishev joined the board of Kazakhstan Engineering in 2014 and is credited as the architect of the joint venture with Paramount Engineering. He also oversaw the construction of the Arlan armored vehicle factory in Kazakhstan.

https://www.praguepost.com/world-news/kazakh-oligarch-kenes-rakishev-supply-armored-vehicles-to-chechen-soldiers-in-ukraine