GROZNY, May 28. /TASS/. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Thursday the Islamic State (IS) militant group poses a threat to both the Middle East and Russia.

"And we should do utmost to counter this evil," Kadyrov told a meeting of the republic’s Interior Ministry. The Chechen head has urged law enforcement agencies to prevent any attempts of recruiting the local youth.

"The IS terrorists have nothing to do with Islam. Their path contrasts with our religion. This has been proven by the leading Islam researchers. They are cutting, beheading and shooting innocent people, including Muslims," Kadyrov was quoted by his press service as saying.

Chechnya’s youth should get this message, he said.

"One of the key tasks for the law enforcement agencies is to prevent the cases of the youth joining the ranks of armed gangs, and namely the IS," Kadyrov said.