Persoverzicht Tsjetsjenië - oktober 2016

• 2016-11-07
• Democratie & mensenrechten Europa in de wereld

3 oktober 2016

Spokesman denies reports on foiled assassination attempt on Chechen leader Kadyrov: Spokesman for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, Alvi Karimov, has dismissed reports alleging that an assassination attempt on Kadyrov had been foiled in summer 2016. Novaya Gazeta claimed on Monday that an assassination attack on Kadyrov had been thwarted. (Gazeta.ru; see also editorial lines)

'The curse of Ichkeria'

According to an investigation conducted by HRW ahead of elections of the head of Chechnya elections, a 10 year-old 'deal' between Moscow and Ramzan Kadyrov providing for Kadyrov's loyalty in exchange for power and money, can fail every moment, as he is no more fully controlled by Kremlin. Corruption, human rights abuses, numerous repressions, social stratification are clear signals to Moscow that Chechnya is a territory where the Russian Constitution is not respected. Thus, Chechnya has become an autonomous region with the absolutist power of its head and Moscow's interests are taken into account only when they coincide with the interests of Kadyrov, experts say. (http://www.novayagazeta.ru/politics/74779.html)

10 oktober 2016

North Caucasus: eight militants killed in Chechnya: The Chechen Interior Ministry said on Saturday that eight militants have been killed in a clash on Saturday in Chechnya's Gudermes district. Four police officers were injured. (ii) MK reports that Sharip Delimkhanov, a cousin of Chechnya's head Ramzan Kadyrov, has become the chief of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia) department for the Chechen Republic. (iii) Reportedly, three militants have been killed in an operation in Dagestan. One special task police officer was wounded. A source in law enforcement agencies said that according to preliminary information, the militants who had been killed were members of the 'southern' militant group. (iv) Two traffic police officers were killed in an attack on Sunday night in Kabardino-Balkaria. (Gazeta.ru, Kommersant, MK, TASS)

12 oktober 2016

An effigy of writer Solzhenitsyn effigy which hanged in front of Moscow's Gulag Museum provoked a wave of indignation in Russian blogosphere. Matvey Ganapolsky and Alexander Minkin note that this case shows that Putin no more has absolute power in Russia, as, for example, Chechen head Kadyrov or young vandals can do whatever they want without any control or punishment. Such cases show absence of power in Russia, bloggers conclude.

http://echo.msk.ru/blog/ganapolsky/1853910-echo/, https://www.facebook.com/echomsk.ru/posts/1373950022634003:0

13 oktober 2016

Kadyrov critic's daughter attacked in Moscow: Reportedly, a daughter of Russian heavyweight champion Fyodor Emelianenko was attacked in Moscow, days after her father criticised the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov for allowing children to fight in a mixed martial arts (MMA) tournament.

(Gazeta.ru, MK, MT; Ekho Moskvy)

14 oktober 2016

North Caucasus: three militants killed in Kabardino-Balkaria: Three militants, including a gang leader, have been killed in an operation in Kabardino-Balkaria. According to law enforcement agencies, the militants who had been killed planned to stage a terror attack in Nalchik. (Gazeta.ru)

17 oktober 2016

Two militants killed in Dagestan operation: The National Anti-terrorism Committee confirmed on Monday that two militants had been killed in an operation in Dagestan's Derbent district on Sunday. (TASS)

21 oktober 2016

New candidate for Kremlin's internal policy department: Russian political observers continue to follow situation with new appointments in the Kremlin Administration after its head Yyacheslav Volodin got a new job in a lower house of Russian Parliament. His position was replaced by a former Minister of Atomic Energy Sergey Kiriyenko. According to reports Andrey Yarin is one of the most probable candidates to head internal policy department. Reportedly Yarin has a lot of experience in the regions including Chechnya, Volga Federal District, and Ryazan Government. Presently Yarin is a Deputy of Presidential Representative on the Central Federal District. Observers note that Yarin is a compromise figure and a result of the internal struggle. (RBK)

27 oktober 2016

Nadezhda Savchenko Returns to support compatriots. Reportedly Ukrainian MP Nadezhda Savchenko has returned to Russia for the first time since being jailed and pardoned by Russian authorities earlier this year. The former pilot, who is now one of Ukraine’s most popular political figures, arrived in Moscow to provide moral support during the trial of two Ukrainians, charged with killing Russian nationals in the Chechen War, 20 years ago. Both suspects Stanislav Klykh and Nikolay Karpyuk deny the accusations, claiming they were not even in Chechnya at the time.  The men were sentenced to 20 and 22 years in prison respectively but the Ukrainian government has asked for their extradition. (Gzeta.ru, MK, Kommersant)