War and Peace in Chechnya

The Role of Ramzan Kadyrov

Author(s): Laurent Vinatier
Editor(s): Jeronim Perovic, Robert Orttung, Matthias Neumann, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 51
Pages: 10-13
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen
Publication Year: 2008

The Chechen war is over, but the peace within the republic remains fragile. Then Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Ramzan Kadyrov president of Chechnya in March 2007 and he now concentrates vast powers in his hands, making all the important political decisions, controlling the financial flows from Moscow, and ruling over a large number of security forces loyal to him. The situation in Chechnya has greatly improved over the past two or three years, but the challenges to establish an effective peace remain. Kadyrov did not manage to completely eliminate the old guerilla resistance, which is still able to carry out attacks against Russian and pro-Kadyrov forces. Also, there is a danger that the simmering clan struggles within the republic could intensify and erupt into open conflict. Violence might occur if, for example, Moscow decided to shift its support to a leader other than Kadyrov, which might ultimately result in changes to the power configuration within the republic.

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