The Oil Factor and War of Clans in Chechnya

Author(s): Nathalie Ouvaroff
Editor(s): Jeronim Perovic, Robert Orttung, Matthias Neumann, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 42
Pages: 5-8
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen
Publication Year: 2008

Oil has long been an object of conflict in Chechnya, with both Moscow and the leaders of the republic trying to gain control of the profits from its sale. Over time various warlords and members of the Russian special services have sold the oil on the black market for personal profit. Under Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechens argue that the Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft is taking too much of the republic's oil for its own purposes, leaving too little money in the region. Kadyrov has apparently scored some victories over Rosneft recently, but these may be short-lived. Ultimately, the Putin-Medvedev tandem and the people around them must decide whether the Russian government will continue to support Kadyrov or try to replace him with an alternative figure who would better serve Russian interests.

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