Chechnya: 30 Years of Conflict and Political Transformation
TL;DR
Thirty years after the First Chechen War, Chechnya remains under the control of Ramzan Kadyrov, a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kadyrov has turned Chechnya into a semi-independent state, notorious for human rights abuses, including the abduction, torture, and murder of critics and LGBTQ+ individuals. His private army of 70,000 fighters supports Putin's regime, and Kadyrov's influence extends beyond Chechnya, with reported extrajudicial killings in Moscow and Berlin. Despite speculation about his health and potential regime change, Kadyrov's power remains unchallenged, crucial for maintaining stability in the North Caucasus.
- 30 years since start of First Chechen War, Kadyrov's Chechnya remains one of the most brutal places on Earth Kyiv Independent
- VOA Russian: Chechen opposition activist on Putin’s impunity in Chechnya VOA Asia
- First Chechen War: The moment when ‘Russia’s democratic post-Soviet dream ended’ VOA Asia
- VOA Russian: Chechen wars and the formation of the political model of the Russian state VOA Asia
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on Kyiv Independent