Kremlin Raised Another Dudayev

With the intention to initiate constitutional process in Chechnya, the Kremlin mostly stakes on the head of Chechnya administration Ahmad Kadyrov. However, the Russian authority is trying to avoid taking any energetic measures that could break the stability of relationship established with Ahmad Kadyrov by this moment. The main candidate to the presidential post in the Chechen republic (elections are scheduled for December) has realized this situation and is trying to avail himself of it.

At the end of the last week Ahmad Kadyrov suddenly declared that Chechnya Minister for Internal Affairs Ruslan Tsakayev, who has been on the post for about five months, resigned.  The head of Chechnya administration declared that he was dissatisfied with activity of the republic's police. He said that Ruslan Tsakayev wouldn't appear in the republic as minister. The resigned minister himself explains his decision with some disputes with the republican leadership concerning the manpower policy in the Ministry for Internal Affairs. In particular, the man strongly objected to recruiting of amnestied separatists to Chechnya police, he said it was inadmissible. At that, he added that former members of illegal armed gangs "had enough other opportunities to exert themselves in peaceful life." The former minister regrets that "sometimes people inexperienced in administrative work were appointed on leading positions in the Chechen government." Tsakayev's colleagues say that the former minister is a consistent federal, he always treated former separatist Ahmad Kadyrov with distrust. Right before the referendum on Chechnya constitution held on March 23, TV channels broadcast surrender of 46 armed Chechen separatists to the authorities; Ahmad Kadyrov warmly greeted them and promised protection from criminal prosecution.

Meanwhile, Kadyrov's decision concerning the dismissal of the interior minister caused a strange reaction of the federal authorities that have the prerogative right to appoint and dismiss top officials of this category. In particular, Russian Minister for Internal Affairs Boris Gryzlov treated the fact rather aloof, he just gave a positive estimate to activity of the former head of Chechnya police. The Russian minister said, Ruslan Tsakayev plaid a particular role in formation of the republican Ministry of Internal Affairs and during preparation for the recently held referendum. At that Boris, Gryzlov added that Tsakayev handed in his resignation "for family reasons" on April 2. The former minister will be moved to office in Moscow.

Thus, it is likely that the resignation isn't connected with defects of Ministry's activity and with the blast of a bus in the city of Grozny on April 3. Some observers say that the resignation is explained with some political reasons. It is rumored that Ahmad Kadyrov is actively clearing the area to secure his victory at the forthcoming presidential elections. Even the tragic death of the leader of Chechnya special purpose police unit, Gazimagomadov is connected with the struggle for power and resources that has started among Chechen clans.

The incident with the former Minister of Internal Affairs is not the first of this kind. At the beginning of the year the federal authorities witnessed a conflict between newly appointed prime minister of the Chechen government Mikhail Babich and Ahmad Kadyrov who disliked the new prime minister. The head of Chechnya administration attempted to gain control over financial flows in the republic, that is why he appointed his protege Eli Isayev Chechen Minister of Finance without previous coordination with the prime minister. The conflict resulted on February 10 when Ahmad Kadyrov dismissed Babich and appointed Anatoly Popov his first deputy and prime minister of Chechnya government. At that, the head of Chechnya administration declared that appointment of Anatoly Popov was his choice.

At present, Ahmad Kadyrov has already announced candidates to the post of Minister for Internal Affairs.

Judging by the recent events, for the sake of peace and stability in Chechnya the Kremlin is ready to make concessions to local Chechen clans that have assumed the hard job of establishing peace in the republic. At that, it is impossible to avoid the double standards practice which may entail total loss of control over the situation in the republic. This may make it so that in the future it will be not the federal center who will control the head of Chechnya administration, but the latter will himself dictate his will. We perfectly know what consequences this situation may entail.

N.Novosyolov
MiK news agency