Journalists and rights defenders compare level of Chechnya's independence before and after the war

In the post-war years, Chechnya has achieved greater independence than the self-proclaimed Chechen Republic of Ichkeria had wanted, the journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza believes. Djohar Dudaev, the President of Ichkeria could not even dream of such a level of federal subsidies, which now Chechnya receives, the rights defender Yan Rachinsky has noted.

Mr Kara-Murza, a columnist of the "Sobesednik.ru", also believes that the republic still has prerequisites for the onset of a new conflict in connection with oil fields in the republic.

Oleg Orlov, a member of the Board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", believes that with the reasonable Kremlin's policy, it was possible to agree with Djohar Dudaev on that independence, which Chechnya now possesses.

He added that it is hard to say now how the situation in Chechnya will develop; however, he sees no preconditions for another conflict.

Yan Rachinsky, a member of the Board of the International Society "Memorial", believes the violent resolution of the "Chechen crisis" was the result of inept decisions of Russian leadership, which later created a deadlock.

According to his story, currently, a "conditional stability" is in place in Chechnya.

In the opinion of Andrei Babitsky, a columnist of the "Ukraina.ru", there is no opposition in Chechnya now. He has treated the Kadyrov's regime as an "option of governor-general rule" and noted that so far the republic needs this particular ruler.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.