Analysts treat Kadyrov's statement on underground liquidation as premature

After the liquidation of a militant grouping headed by Aslan Byutukaev in Katar-Yurt it is too early to declare the end of armed conflicts in Chechnya, as a young generation is growing up, dissatisfied with authorities' policies, the experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 20, Ramzan Kadyrov announced liquidation of a grouping of militants headed by Aslan Byutukaev in Katar-Yurt. The Russian National Antiterrorist Committee (NAC) reported that five militants were killed in the counterterrorist operation (CTO).

The killing of the authoritative leader of the armed underground will not liquidate militants, says Alexei Malashenko, a political analyst and the head of scientific studies at the "Civilizations' Dialogue" Institute.

He treats the statements about the end of the war on terrorism and extremism after the murder of one specific person as frivolous. "This is such a propaganda step. Everyone understands perfectly well that there are people ready to participate in [armed clashes]; the younger generation is growing up, there is discontent," Mr Malashenko has stated.

Sergey Goncharov, President of the International Association of Veterans of the "Alfa" Counterterrorist Unit, has also noted that it is premature talking about the liquidation of the armed underground in Chechnya. "Citizens dissatisfied with the republics' social policies are still in the territory of Northern Caucasus," he said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 21, 2021 at 00:25 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.