Analysts point to Kremlin's role in promoting Chechen law enforcers

The image of Chechen law enforcers as successful militaries is built by Moscow; and the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, performs all the actions within this promotion campaign at the Kremlin's behest, analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have pointed out.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 16, Alexander Khodakovsky, the commander of the "Vostok" (East) battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), criticized the fighters from Chechnya for their poor training.

On March 16, during his online meeting on economic support for the regions, Russian President Vladimir Putin turned to the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, with a request to convey his regards to the Chechen law enforcers in Ukraine.

During Kadyrov's communication with Putin, the results of the promotion campaign of fighting qualities of Kadyrov people were visible; and Kadyrov received Putin's public encouragement, Ruslan Kutaev, the president of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, has noted.

"Putin's words that they are fighting well are a message to Russians; they say, don't worry, Kadyrov people are fighting well and will bring us victory," Mr Kutaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In his opinion, Kadyrov has achieved his main goal of the campaign in Ukraine – to be recognized for the courage and combat readiness of his militaries. "But, to be honest, it seems to me that this is not the goal of Kadyrov himself. Vladimir Putin has personally assigned this role to him, and he also made Kadyrov's promotion," Ruslan Kutaev had concluded.

A similar opinion was expressed by Alexei Malashenko, a chief researcher at the E. M. Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). "The head of Chechnya has actually received public encouragement from Putin. The President ... has distinguished Chechen militaries from the rest. This shows that the parties are extremely pleased with each other," Mr Malashenko has stressed.

Everything that Kadyrov did and said during that time was done on behalf of the Kremlin, the analyst believes. "Someone may have the feeling that Kadyrov's words about Ukraine, about the need to send troops were the result of his initiative; but no. He stated this at the direction of the Kremlin. He has fulfilled all the tasks and received recognition and approval," Alexei Malashenko believes.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 18, 2022 at 03:50 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.