Analysts doubt preparation of Chechen theologians for real battles

The military training of the staff of the Chechen Muftiate and theologians fits into the Ramzan Kadyrov’s policy of militarization and is hardly voluntary, Svetlana Gannushkina* and Oyub Titiev believe. They considered the probability of participation of religious figures in real battles doubtful.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on November 15, Ramzan Kadyrov called on Chechen Sufis to create military units. Its addressees were not ideologically disposed to participate in hostilities, analysts noted. The staff of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Chechnya and the imams of the republic are undergoing military training to be ready to be sent to the special military operation, the Chechen Muftiate reported.

The staff of the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Chechnya are undergoing military training, as this is in line with the current policy, human rights defender Oyub Titiev points out. “The Muftiate supported (the special military operation in Ukraine) from the very beginning. Therefore, there is nothing to be surprised about ... And this has nothing to do with Islam, it has to do with the Russia’s policy," Oyub Titiev said.

The human rights defender believes that employees of the official administration of Muslims can even form separate military units.

Oyub Titiev doubts that the existing socio-economic problems in Chechnya can fade into the background due to the militarization of the society amid the special military operation.

Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the “Civic Assistance Committee”**, considers the training of imams at the Special Forces University to be just a continuation of the Ramzan Kadyrov’s policy.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice into the register of individuals-foreign agents.

**The organization has been included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the list of the NCOs performing the functions of foreign agents.