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Chechen leader Kadyrov 'threatens whole of Russia', opposition warns Chechen leader Kadyrov 'threatens whole of Russia', opposition warns
(35 minutes later)
The Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has been attacked as a ruthless and corrupt leader with his own private army who could pose a threat to the whole of Russia, according to a report by the Russian opposition. The Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, is a ruthless and corrupt leader who could pose a threat to the whole of Russia, according to a report by the Russian opposition.
The report – written by prominent opposition figure Ilya Yashin and entitled “National security threat” – alleges that President Vladimir Putin has allowed Kadyrov to turn Chechnya into a personal fiefdom beyond the control of the central authorities. The report – written by prominent opposition figure Ilya Yashin and entitled National Security Threat – alleges that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has allowed Kadyrov to turn Chechnya into a personal fiefdom beyond the control of the central authorities.
“We are opposing a corrupt, dangerous regime that poses a threat to Russia and Chechnya,” Yashin said at a press conference, which police tried to break up after a bomb warning.“We are opposing a corrupt, dangerous regime that poses a threat to Russia and Chechnya,” Yashin said at a press conference, which police tried to break up after a bomb warning.
“Today’s regime in Chechnya you can describe as a personal rule.”“Today’s regime in Chechnya you can describe as a personal rule.”
Kadyrov has already been criticised for rights abuses during his oppressive rule in Chechnya. He rose to power following the assassination of his father Akhmad Kadyrov in 2004. Kadyrov has already been criticised for rights abuses during his oppressive rule in Chechnya. He rose to power following the assassination of his father, Akhmad Kadyrov, in 2004.
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Kadyrov Jr, a former rebel fighter who officially took office in 2007, dismissed the report as “nothing more than chatter” in an online post.Kadyrov Jr, a former rebel fighter who officially took office in 2007, dismissed the report as “nothing more than chatter” in an online post.
Its release comes just ahead of the one-year anniversary of the murder of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov in central Moscow. Supporters of the Kremlin critic have blamed his death on Kadyrov’s allies.Its release comes just ahead of the one-year anniversary of the murder of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov in central Moscow. Supporters of the Kremlin critic have blamed his death on Kadyrov’s allies.
Five Chechen men – including a deputy commander of an interior ministry battalion – have been charged with carrying out a contract hit on Nemtsov on 27 February 2015, but no organisers have been detained.Five Chechen men – including a deputy commander of an interior ministry battalion – have been charged with carrying out a contract hit on Nemtsov on 27 February 2015, but no organisers have been detained.
Yashin, a close ally of Nemtsov, said he collated the report from open-source material in a bid to show that Kadyrov’s rule in Chechnya now poses a threat to the whole of Russia.Yashin, a close ally of Nemtsov, said he collated the report from open-source material in a bid to show that Kadyrov’s rule in Chechnya now poses a threat to the whole of Russia.
Moscow fought two brutal separatist wars in Chechnya in the 1990s and early 2000s, but the region has now returned to relative stability under Kadyrov’s iron grip despite a lingering Islamist insurgency.Moscow fought two brutal separatist wars in Chechnya in the 1990s and early 2000s, but the region has now returned to relative stability under Kadyrov’s iron grip despite a lingering Islamist insurgency.
But Yashin said that Putin’s policy of giving Kadyrov a free hand in Chechnya in return for an end to all-out fighting now threatens to blow up in the Kremlin’s face.But Yashin said that Putin’s policy of giving Kadyrov a free hand in Chechnya in return for an end to all-out fighting now threatens to blow up in the Kremlin’s face.
“Putin has put a time bomb in place in Chechnya that could lead to a third Chechen war or some other crisis,” Yashin said.“Putin has put a time bomb in place in Chechnya that could lead to a third Chechen war or some other crisis,” Yashin said.
The opposition estimates that Kadyrov now has some 30,000 fighters – nominally under the control of Russia’s interior ministry but actually loyal only to him – under his personal command.The opposition estimates that Kadyrov now has some 30,000 fighters – nominally under the control of Russia’s interior ministry but actually loyal only to him – under his personal command.
Kadyrov has recently sparked outrage with a string of public threats against prominent Kremlin critics.Kadyrov has recently sparked outrage with a string of public threats against prominent Kremlin critics.
Earlier this month Kadyrov posted a video of former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov, the leader of opposition party Parnas, targeted in the sights of a sniper rifle along with his deputy.Earlier this month Kadyrov posted a video of former prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov, the leader of opposition party Parnas, targeted in the sights of a sniper rifle along with his deputy.
Last month, the Chechen leader penned a lengthy diatribe against Putin’s critics in the pro-Kremlin daily Izvestiya, calling them a “gang of jackals” who “dream of destroying our state”.Last month, the Chechen leader penned a lengthy diatribe against Putin’s critics in the pro-Kremlin daily Izvestiya, calling them a “gang of jackals” who “dream of destroying our state”.