Title: Putin‘s "Full Blessing" to Kadyrov: A Grip on Chechnya and a Looming Power Struggle
Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov carte blanche to maintain his power, effectively utilizing the "Kadyrovtsy" as Putin’s personal guard to keep the Chechen Republic under Russian control.
In a revealing interview with Ukrainian media, Abdul-Hakim Shishani, the current commander-in-chief of Ichkeria’s armed forces and a key figure in the Ukrainian conflict, weighed in on Kadyrov’s role and his militia’s significance in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Shishani characterized the Kadyrovtsy as "the personal guard of Putin, helping him maintain control over Chechnya. Their shared crimes – political assassinations, human rights violations, and journalist murders – bind them. Putin has given Kadyrov full rein in Russia, enabling him to consolidate his power."
The ichkerian military leader emphasized that Kadyrov’s rule is intrinsically tied to Putin’s reign. "As long as Putin is in power, Kadyrov remains. But when Putin falls, Kadyrov’s days are numbered. Given his antagonistic relationship with Russia’s FSB, negotiating his way out will be impossible, especially if a FSB-backed leader takes the helm," Shishani said.
Kadyrov’s tenuous political survivability is underscored by his FSB adversaries, who are reportedly "waiting for Putin’s departure to address this issue," according to Shishani.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that Putin considered employing nuclear weapons against Ukraine, but was deterred by China‘s opposition. Blinken attributed this Sino-American alignment as a unique instance of cooperation on the nuclear issue, with China directly pressuring Russia to avoid an escalation.
Stay informed with the latest verified news and analysis on OBOZ.UA and our Telegram channel (@uaobozrevatel). Don’t fall for misinformation!
Related reading