Kadyrov will be patient

Contrary to the expectations of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee did not recommend that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev cancel the counter-terrorist operation regime in the republic. As Kommersant writes, citing a source in the committee, the regime, however, may be softened: Grozny will be allowed to open its customs and international airport.

Kadyrov, meanwhile, said that the committee was on his side because it agreed “after going through the necessary procedures” to report to the president on the situation in Chechnya. Kadyrov is still confident that the regime will be removed in the near future. Earlier, Kadyrov was supported by Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov and Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov. The security forces, however, are not enthusiastic about this idea.

Later, Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov said that the issue of lifting the regime of the counter-terrorism operation in Chechnya would still be considered this year and next. In a conversation with a Gazeta correspondent, he said that the decision not to abolish this regime is connected with the general situation in the region, in particular with preparations for the Olympics in Sochi.