Khadziev apologizes to Kadyrov by his personal initiative, analysts believe

Yakhya Khadziev, a former Ingush official, apologized to fellows from his teip (family clan) for his warm meeting with Ramzan Kadyrov. Shortly after that he apologized to the leader of Chechnya, and the analysts interviewed by the “Caucasian Knot” believe it is unlikely that Yakhya Khadziev has apologized under pressure.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that after being criticized by fellows from his teip, Yakhya Khadziev, the former chief of the Ingush Department for Religious Affairs, apologized that he warmly greeted the leader of Chechnya at the meeting in Grozny. After that, supporters of Ramzan Kadyrov voiced threats against residents of Ingushetia, and Yakhya Khadziev apologized again, but this time to Ramzan Kadyrov. His apologies followed the Ramzan Kadyrov’s request to residents of Ingushetia to voice all claims against him within three days.

According to Timur Akiev, the chief of the Ingush branch of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Memorial”*, the Yakhya Khadziev’s apologies to Ramzan Kadyrov were unlikely caused by threats.

Yakhya Khadziev apologized without pressure, believes Albert Darbazanov, a member of the Ingush national-cultural society “Daimokhk” (Fatherland).

“He is such a person by himself. He rushes from side to side. He said too much, so he recorded those apologies,” Albert Darbazanov noted.

According to him, many residents of Ingushetia have territorial claims to Chechnya because of the border agreement.

Yakub Gogiev, a founder of the Ingush Historical and Geographical Society “Dzurdzuki”, doubted the voluntary nature of the apologies to Ramzan Kadyrov. “He was intimidated from the other side (from Chechnya). And the Ingush side demanded that he did not apologize to anyone and kept silent finally,” he said.

*The organization has been put by the Russian Ministry of Justice on the register of NCOs performing the functions of a foreign agent. On December 29, the Moscow City Court pronounced the decision to liquidate the organization.