After the killing of Russia's terrorist number one Shamil Basayev in mid-July, the Kremlin declared a temporary offer, until August 1, for militants active across the North Caucasus to lay down their arms, promising them unbiased investigation. The deadline was later extended until September 30. A source in the Chechen government earlier said Chechnya's prime minister had contacted Umarov via his family and other mediators.
"I came to [Prime Minister] Ramzan Kadyrov, taking his word for it," Akhmed Umarov told journalists in Gudermes, at the premier's residence.
"I am not responsible for the actions of my younger brother and have decided to turn myself in to the Chechen authorities without any outside pressure," he said. "I am tired of this chaos, and want to return to a peaceful life, and also to find my father, who is missing."
He said he had been impressed by his meeting with Ramzan Kadyrov.
The report on Doku Umarov's alleged surrender came after several militants from his group laid down their arms a few days ago.
Chechen Prosecutor Nikolai Kalugin said Friday that 119 gunmen had surrendered in Chechnya alone since the offer was declared.
However, militants have staged three attacks this month in the neighboring Caucasus republics of Daghestan and Ingushetia, targeting law officers and killing five and wounding 13 people.
Doku Umarov served under warlord Ruslan Gelayev until he was killed in 2004, and is believed to have been involved in the killings of 30 police officers and servicemen. In 2004, he was in the Basayev-led group that raided Ingushetia, where police said militants attacked 19 police precincts and prisons.
Sporadic fighting in Chechnya - although the active phase of the anti-terrorism campaign has been declared over - has hampered efforts to rebuild housing and infrastructure, create jobs and incite separatists to return to peaceful life in the republic after a decade of warfare.
