KEPT FOR A THIRD TERM

Abstract

(By Yelena Mukhametshina and Pyotr Kozlov. Vedomosti, March 28, 2016, p. 3. Complete text:) [Russian President] Vladimir Putin on Friday [March 25] signed a decree appointing Ramzan Kadyrov the acting head of Chechnya. At a meeting in the Kremlin, the president expressed hope that Kadyrov would participate in the September elections and stressed the need for close coordination with federal authorities on security matters: You, and any future head of the republic, of course, must do everything to comply with Russian laws in all facets. Let me emphasize: in all facets. Afterward, the acting head of Chechnya met with first deputy head of the presidential administration Vyacheslav Volodin. Kadyrov posted about the meeting on Instagram: We are well aware of what the country’s domestic policies were before Vyacheslav Viktorovich [Volodin] started handling these issues. President Vladimir Putin appointed Kadyrov head of Chechnya in February 2007, and in March 2011, he was approved for another term on [then-Russian president] Dmitry Medvedev’s recommendation. His term expires on April 5. Chechnya is the only region in the North Caucasus that elect its leader by popular vote. ... The situation with Kadyrov shows that the vertical chain of command does not quite work, but no one wants to talk publicly about that now, a federal official explains: Many people are unhappy with the situation, including defense, security and law-enforcement officials. But the president apparently believes that reappointing [Kadyrov] is the best option, because it is believed that he is keeping the situation [in Chechnya] under control. Replacing Kadyrov take time, since it entail a turnover of elites, he adds. ... Putin’s statement about complying with laws relates to cooperation with law enforcers. He most likely wasn’t demanding compliance with electoral law, believes political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin. Perhaps this is a signal to federal law enforcers that they can take a more hard-line approach in some cases. Clear steps be taken to mend relations between Chechen law-enforcement agencies and federal law enforcers, and the president’s statement can be regarded as a signal to Chechen law-enforcement officers not to exceed their authority, believes political analyst Aleksandr Pozhalov. At the same time, Putin’s recognition of [Chechnya’s] economic successes will make it difficult for Chechen authorities to lobby for the allocation of additional funds to rebuild the [Chechen] economy, he said. The mere fact of the reappointment, along with the meeting with the president, puts Kadyrov in a good position, believes political analyst Mikhail Vinogradov: Despite making some gaffes and dubious remarks (for example, Kadyrov thanked Putin for finally agreeing to meet with him), this was by and large a success for The question is whether the events of January to March [i.e., Kadyrov’s recent controversial behavior - Trans.] lead to greater federal involvement in the Chechen administration, and the emergence of counterweights and new appointments, or whether the status quo continue - which, again, would look like a success for Kadyrov.