Experts on Caucasus dispute about motives for awarding Adam Kadyrov

The decoration of Adam Kadyrov, 15, with the highest awards of Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria was dictated by the desire of the republics' heads to show their respect to his father, Akhmet Yarlykapov has suggested. These awards to Adam Kadyrov were initiated by Moscow as a support signal for Ramzan Kadyrov's possible successor, Ruslan Kutaev has objected.

The awarding of Kadyrov's son by the heads of the above republics has probably to do with the need to raise the authority of the head of Chechnya among the elites of other Caucasian republics, Akhmet Yarlykapov, a senior researcher at the Centre for Caucasus Problems and Regional Security at the Moscow State Foreign Relations Institute (known as MGIMO), has suggested, adding that "most likely, work is underway to strengthen Kadyrov's authority in the Caucasus."

The awards for Kadyrov's son have no sense for the regions themselves, but were initiated from the Kremlin, says Ruslan Kutaev, the President of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations. "This is being done in order to influence the ruling groupings in Chechnya. This is a signal to them: do not expect that any of you will be able to lead Chechnya if something happens to Ramzan Kadyrov ... Chechnya will be ruled by members of the Kadyrov family," he believes.

The awarding of Kadyrov's son has to do with the Zhuravel's story, and indicates indirect approval of illegal violent actions, Valery Khatazhukov, the head of the Kabardino-Balkarian Public Human Rights Centre, has stated.