Author of book about Kadyrov's Chechnya criticizes republic's changes

Ramzan Kadyrov has managed to inject new values into the Chechen society and establish a system of ruling that is alien to Chechen traditions. This was stated by Jonathan Littell, the author of the book about the first years of Kadyrov's Chechnya, in his interview with the "Meduza".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in May 2017, Jonathan Littell, a French writer, supported the solidarity campaign with LGBT people of Chechnya and Donbas organized by rights defenders.

The writer has noted the persecution campaign of homosexuals as the most visible process outside the Chechen Republic in the past 10 years.

"Killings of people outside Chechnya have also frequented. The republic's authorities are more involved in international politics, both personally and by sending mercenaries into the thick of various conflicts – from Syria to Ukraine. In general, Kadyrov has definitely gained power, strength and experience, which, of course, makes him much more dangerous," Mr Littell has stated.

He believes that Kadyrov has managed to "build a monarchy," and made it in such a way that "most young Chechens consider it normal," although "historically this is abnormal for Chechens; and the older generation believes it rather wild."

The writer has also pointed to a change in attitude towards women: in the traditional Chechen society, public criticism of the behaviour of someone other's wife or daughter is categorically unacceptable, but in modern Chechnya it has become a widespread phenomenon.

"When Ramzan's guys can beat a woman up for absence of a headscarf, it's not the Chechen way at all ... But people are so scared that they put up with it," he has explained.

According to Littell, in residents of the today's Chechnya, it's already difficult to find those character traits that distinguished the "old-fashioned Chechens", including the ability to keep their words firmly. The writer also notes that 20 years ago the issue of homophobia and people similar in appearance to gays didn't "pop up" in the Chechen society.