The Chechen republic found a new president-Ramzan Kadyrov, the son of the former leader Ahmad Kadyrov. His allies gave voice for appointment of Ramzan Kadyrov as a next president soon after death of the first head of postwar Chechnya. However the Kremlin opposed. The reasons were neither ideological nor political. Ramzan Kadyrov was 27 at that moment whereas the post of the regional head is aimed at a person from 30 and older. That days a staunch politician Alu Alkhanov became a president. And later, on the 15-th of February, president Vladimir Putin accepted the resignation of Alkhanov from the presidential post of the Chechen Republic. Ramzan Kadyrov was commissioned interim president of Chechnya. Even then no one doubted about his presidential future. After the so called half-monthly “probation” Vladimir Putin nominated Ramzan Kadyrov on the presidential post.
So that to follow appearance of the competition, polpred of the president in the South federal district Dmitry Kozak presented three contenders to Vladimir Putin. Among them are Kadyrov and another two persons, whose surnames were of no importance. Ramzan Kadyrov is known to be popular among the “Kremlins” and Vladimir Putin personally. From another side, Chechen people like and respect him. That’s why even the severe oppositionists will not have the subject to speak of Kadyrov as a “prokremlin” creature.
It turns out that Ramzan Kadyrov as a president of the Chechen Republic, perhaps, the ideal person for Russia: he is both staunch to Putin and is adored by his nation. Along with that the Kremlin will clearly have to make up its mind to some of the Chechen national features in the name of peace in the Northern Caucasus. The Chechen leader in his news statues acknowledged inviolability of the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. He also stated that he didn’t see any must in the convention for delimitation of authorities with the federal centre. “I stand for a powerful and integrated state-Russia”, Kadyrov-jr. said. Still Ramzan Kadyrov is known as an ambitious politician who may defend his ethnos interests on the All-Russian level.
So, what Chechnya with Ramzan Kadyrov should wait for? What changes will tale place in the political life of the republic in view of the new president? Will the Chechen authorities come to an understanding with Moscow and provide security in the Northern Caucasus? Multiportal KM.ru in this context arranged the round-table devoted t the problem “What is Chechnya waiting for with Ramzan Kadyrov?”, that took place online on the 13-th of March. The participants were: expert of the Russian institute for strategic studies Alexander Skakov (RISI), the deputy director general of the Centre for current politics in Russia Alexander Shatilov and the editor of the “Expert” appendix Vitaly Ageev.
To the opinion of the CPK expert, Chechnya in view of the presidential election will undergo certain changes along with the conservation of the general political allegiance towards the federal centre. “Kadyrov demonstrates in every way being subject to the president of the Russian Federation. He looks about his position solely rather than any of elite groups, -Alexander Shatilov supposes. In the light of that the most significant endpoint is 2007-2008. Much will depend on the ability of the new leader to come to terms with the Chechen elites. Together with that Ramzan Kadyrov is surely will take the opportunity to bear heavily on the federal centre on the eve of elections and to acquire certain preferences for his republic”.
The editor of the “Expert” appendix Vitaly Ageev agreed with the analyst: “I think that political situation in Chechnya will hardly change in the near future. Only Kadyrov`s positions will reinforce. In other words, positions of those, surrounding Kadyrov. Much will depend on the situation in the federal centre. Significant power redistribution will reflect on Chechnya”.The expert of the RISI Alexander Skakov supposes that Ramzan Kadyrov “has enough good sense to come to an understanding even with the next Russian president”. To his mind the present Chechen leader is by all means a clever and educable man. One might notice that since he came to the Russian president in jogging trousers after his father’s death, he has made a great progress. His positions are estimably reinforcing nowadays.”
Answering the question about the possible steps of the new leader towards internal opposition Vitaly Ageev mentioned: “Oppositional powers in Chechnya were not allowed to the “economic pie”. Namely to use financial assets of the federal centre assigned for the republic reconstruction. But I`d speak of the criminal groups rather than of political opposition. And Kadyrov is trying either to come to terms or to struggle against them physically “.
To Alexander Shatilov`s mind currently “extremist and terroristic powers have transferred from Chechnya to some other Caucasian regions such as Ingooshetia and Kabardino-Balkaria. Others left for Iraq to fight against the American troops”. If to speak about the internal elite opposition, it doesn’t exist, to the expert’s mind. Those who tried to show political energy were displaced from high Chechen politics or they were become staunch as it happened with Yamadaev`s tribe…I may say the same thing about the so called “Moscow Chechens” such as Saidulaev or Jabrailov”.
At large the participants of the round-table saw eye-to-eye to each other that there are no preconditions for extremist reinforce in Chechnya nowadays. “Separative ideas and intentions to shape “Islamic caliphate” in the Northern Caucasus receded into the background, -Alexander Skakov supposes.- It depends on economic processes of the republic. I mean the upturn of the Chechen people over the last 7-8 years. Besides it has become the result of the accurate federal activity based on the local elites and more skilful choice of the regional agents”.
The expert emphasized “educability” among the most significant features of the Chechen leader. “It is evident that Kadyrov has changed his lexicon, attitude towards different problems. His interviews has become more sharp than before. He has transformed his image of a good fellow into the leader. Leader rather than just a Chechen guy. It s very important”.
Alexander Shatilov agreed with his colleague: “The main advantage of Kadyrov is his educability and his impose into Chechen society consolidation. Therefore he eliminated a threat of separatism”. Besides, Kadyrov is a pragmatic. “He realizes that it’s better for him to be a president of the Chechen Republic in the Russian Federation and to follow business style on the presidential levees rather than run about mountains with the weapon”.
Source: web-portal “KM.ru”, 14 March 2007.
