Ramzan Kadyrov promises to amnesty Chechen militants again

President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov has called the members of the armed underground to surrender and promised to amnesty them. Kadyrov made this unexpected statement on July 7 during his meeting with the leaders of the Republic's power agencies.

Ramzan Kadyrov justified his statement by numerous appeals of militants' relatives addressed to republic's leaders and clergymen and asking to pardon their children.

Let us remind you that one year ago, after the terror act committed on May 15, 2009, at the building of the Chechen MIA (Ministry of Internal Affairs), Kadyrov said that militants should no longer hope to be amnestied.

According to his story, militants are starving, and after a "fierce battle" was launched against them, they "blow themselves up for fear and kill peaceful residents."

According to his story, "shaitans" (Kadyrov's name for militants) are very few now in the forests - some 60-70 persons.

"Dokku Umarov can also appear at the Prosecutor's office; his crimes will be proved there; and he will be imprisoned for life," President of Chechnya expressed the opinion.

He said that the amnesty will cover also the former militants now living in Europe. "According to our data, there are about one hundred such persons abroad," said Ramzan Kadyrov and added that the authorities will even help them to accommodate.

The unexpected statement of the Chechen President was made almost at once after on July 6 Vladimir Putin, head of the government of Russia, when speaking in Kislovodsk to activists of the "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party, in fact supported amnesty for participants of the armed underground of Northern Caucasus.

In the opinion of one of Chechen experts, the Kadyrov's statement evidences that the affairs in his region are not as nice as asserted by the Chechen authorities. He is sure that not only Ramzan Kadyrov but also other leaders of North-Caucasian republics underestimate the real number of militants.