Ramzan Kadyrov, the long-standing ruler of the Russian republic of Chechnya, is today a prominent name not only in the Caucasus but across Russian politics and internationally. His entire political structure rests essentially on a special understanding with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin’s main condition was that there be no major rebellion or independence movement in Chechnya, and total loyalty to Moscow. In return, Putin gave Kadyrov a free hand to run Chechnya’s internal administration alone and as he chose.
Alongside that, some 20,000 to 30,000 well-equipped and loyal fighters under his personal control, and the Islamic and family influence built up by his father, Akhmad Kadyrov, have made his political base and the edifice of his power secure.
Behind this rise to power, however, lies a long and dramatic historical shift.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the young Ramzan and his father took up arms against Russia alongside Chechen separatists. But during the second Chechen war they changed their political calculation, came to terms with the Kremlin and joined Russia’s side.
As a result, his father Akhmad Kadyrov became president of Chechnya in 2003 and Ramzan became his chief of security. After Akhmad was killed in a bomb attack in 2004, Ramzan moved quickly to the centre of power with Putin’s special backing, and in 2007, as soon as he reached the constitutional minimum age of 30, he formally became president of Chechnya on Putin’s nomination. He has ruled the region with an iron hand ever since.
Securing and maintaining the longevity of this power is the chief aim of Kadyrov and his administration. He has led Chechnya continuously from 2007 to the present.
As Putin’s loyal “foot soldier”, he is working to make permanent the dominance of his family and his loyal security circle in Chechnya, and to establish his children as his successors.
Another of his main strategies is to extract political immunity and large-scale financial support from the Kremlin by providing special diplomatic and military “services” for Russia internationally, including in the Middle East.
The Chechen ruler’s central political aim is to maintain a wholly obedient society by permanently erasing any independent political voice, dissent or separatist thinking in Chechnya.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report