Maksim Shevchenko: ‘Potential head of Chechnya is only Ramzan Kadyrov’
Famous journalist Maksim Shevchenko tells why there is no alternative for the leader of the Chechen Republic
The elections of the head of Chechnya does not leave the federal agenda. In the media, social networks people actively discuss the possible resignation of Ramzan Kadyrov as the head of the Chechen Republic. Contradictory statements go from Ramzan Kadyrov himself. The report of an oppositionist Ilya Yashin 'Threat to national security' added fuel to the fire. The Chechen leader himself was the first who published the report. An expert on the Caucasus, Maksim Shevchenko said in an interview to Realnoe Vremya who can be a leader of the Southern region of Russia.
Effective leader
Federal media is discussing that the President Putin after Nemtsov's assassination distanced from himself Ramzan Kadyrov. In this connection, Kadyrov is going to leave the office of the head of Chechnya…
First, Kadyrov has already stated that he is not ready to leave his post. Secondly, Putin did not distance him, as it so-called federal press says. I don't know how he was close to him. Ramzan Kadyrov is an effective head of the region, he ceased the civil war, having won. He develops the region economically and socially. Has he done something wrong? Everything else is imagination and speculation.
Moreover, a Chechen killed Nemtsov – is it Kadyrov's blame? If Tatar kill someone, Tatars kill too, is it Minnikhanov's fault?
'For Tatarstan it is, of course, small numbers'
Kadyrov said that he has a pleiad of specialists who might replace him. Do you know such people?
A lot. The team of Kadyrov is a very good team of professionals that responsibly and progressively fulfills their duty to the people of the region – Chechens, Russians, people of other nationalities. They build roads, cities, mosques, churches, hospitals, schools. And they are perfectly trained for infrastructure strategic management. Maybe, it is not very densely populated region – a million and something. For Tatarstan it is, of course, small numbers. But they fulfill their duty, serve well the people and the state. I don't see any problem.
Ramzan Kadyrov is an effective head of the region, he ceased the civil war, having won. He develops the region economically and socially. Has he done something wrong? And everything else is imagination and speculation. Photo: tvc.ru
Maksim Leonardovich, are there any names of a potential future leader?
You should ask the Chechens. The potential head is only Ramzan Kadyrov yet. I'm sure, hardly anyone can call the other.
By the way, RBK stated that Putin gave the green light for re-election of Kadyrov.
That was to be expected.
Today Caucasian Knot online news site reported that there will be a rally in support of Kadyrov, and public sector employees are forced to go there. Do you think it is conjecture or not?
Perhaps, somebody is asked to go. Somebody goes voluntarily.
So, you don't deny that there can be an order 'from the top'?
It is all over the country like that.
'Skinhead Nazi fiction'
You, probably, know about the report of Ilya Yashin about 'kadyrovism'. What do you agree with and what don't?
The report is monstrously offensive to the Chechen people with its lies and dirty words which he calls Chechens with. The first chapter is called 'From dirt to princes' (from rags to riches). Who Yashin calls dirt? Chechens? The people, from which supposedly came Akhmat Kadyrov and his son Ramzan? First, the Kadyrovs has not so simple pedigree. And then, to call them dirt – they do not understand the mentality of people, Caucasians, Muslims, by consolidating all under the name 'dirt'.
Besides, there is absolutely skinhead Nazi fiction. Some 40 000 thousand slaves, who were, according to Yashin, in the early 1990s. That is 5% of the population, that is every 20th resident of Chechnya, according to Yashin, was a slave. 21 or 27 thousands of dead Russians – where did he take that number, where are these data from? Kadyrov personally killed Russians and bragged about it – without reference to the source: someone somewhere said that someone heard somewhere.
That is why Ramzan published it before the official presentation of the report. Having read it, he realized that it was stupid, insulting for Chechens. Even those Chechens who hate Ramzan Kadyrov cannot stand up for the report. Because it just insults the people of Chechnya, primarily because of its tone.