Dmitry Rogozin: Chechnya is personal problem for Putin

'The government is gambling on Akhmad Kadyrov to resolve the Chechen conflict,' Dmitry Rogozin, chairman of the State Duma committee on international affairs, said on Echo Moskvi radio station yesterday. In his opinion, this is the reason why Mr Kadyrov was included in the Russian delegation which visited the US recently. 'The president has done everything correctly,' Mr Rogozin said. 'Mr Putin has been criticised several times for never showing Chechens who are willing to talk in the international arena about the need for Chechnya to remain within the framework of the Russian Federation.' Now, according to Mr Rogozin, there are more Chechens like Mr Kadyrov and they will play a greater role in future.

On the other hand, Mr Putin is taking a big risk by gambling on Mr Kadyrov. 'Chechnya is a personal problem for Mr Putin and he is trying to resolve it himself. We may not like this but I believe Mr Putin knows what he is doing,' he said.

Mr Kadyrov will be loyal to the president now as he has his full support 'although I have my own opinion about Mr Kadyrov,' he said.