Chechen dominion

Vitaly Portnikov - about the composition of Russia

After his sensational statement about the “fire to defeat” the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, again became almost the main character of the Russian media space, squeezing federal officials and Ukrainian news. Observers are trying to understand whether Kadyrov will bear some responsibility for his statements or in Moscow will try to lower the incident on the brakes. The head of Chechnya himself hastened to recall his devotion to the President of Russia - in which, in fact, no one doubted either before or after his statement. Because one thing is visiting Russian security forces, and Putin is completely different. But this does not remove the question of the degree of independence of the Chechen leader and further evolution of the response he headed.

The main problem in the relationship between Moscow and the Caucasus is that since the time of the conquest of the region in Russia, the logic of its development and completely natural processes for isolation processes are completely natural for any submissive country. If you look from Moscow, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan or Kabarda are ordinary subjects of the Federation, not very different from the Tambov or Bryansk regions, except with their national specifics. But this is all the same, as if in London in the 19th century it would be believed that India or Burma are no different from an essential or Cornwall. Yes, perhaps gentlemen in the British capital believed that we were talking about the natural possessions of the crown, but still not about England. And in Moscow, whenever they talk about the Caucasus, they don’t even pretend, but sincerely believe that we are talking about Russia. And therefore, every time they are surprised when life refutes these errors.

Johar Dudaev fell into Grozny not by himself. The representatives of the then Russian leadership, convinced that the charismatic general would be able to become a worthy alternative to the nominee of the Union Center, the former party worker Doku Zavgaev, contributed to his coming into power. But, being in the chair of the President of the Chechen Republic, Dudaev saw what it was impossible to notice from the Russian capital - the possibilities of regional dominance. Due to a number of circumstances, about which historical monographs and ethnographic studies are written, it is Chechnya who is a kind of magnet of the region, which is much more elastic in relation to the metropolis.

Having seen these new opportunities, Dudaev began to vigorously build a new state in Chechnya with a geopolitical claim, entered the clinch with Moscow, then there were two Chechen wars, the death of the republic, peace, Kadyrov ... And Kadyrov - it would seem, a completely different person, diametrically opposite to Dudaev and built relations with the President of Russia, opposite relations of his predecessor with Putin's predecessor, Celebrates the same, "Dudaev" problem.

This problem is that the only real restraint of Chechnya’s dominance in the Caucasus are regions inhabited mainly to the Russian population. It is they, not Moscow. Moscow can send an army or verification, but it cannot - and does not want to not want to interfere in the Caucasus at the Caucasus. In the end, its officials can be corrupt.

And for the regions of Russia adjacent to Chechnya, their own role is important. Their leaders, their security forces are also the players of the Caucasus. And if these players have an informal opportunity to intervene in what is happening, it means that other Caucasian leaders can look for support from them, resisting the dominance of Grozny.

Ramzan Kadyrov cannot but understand that so far the employees of the "strangers" of the special services can act in the territory of Chechnya as if she is an ordinary subject of the federation, he will never become a real regional leader. The situation is convenient for him when the Chechen special services can suddenly appear anywhere in Russia, and not only Russia, even if you solve the issues of an internal nature, and the boundaries of Chechnya itself remain impregnable for strangers. It is for this that he is fighting today. And the matter is not only in the personal relationships of Putin and Kadyrov.

The fact is that as a result of the last wars of Chechnya from the republic in Russia, it actually turned into a dominion, an associated state, a country with its interests and its own zone of influence. You can not notice this, this can be denied - but this has already happened.

Another change in the status of this dominion can occur after Kadyrov and Putin. But it must be understood that a return back will require war, moving forward - recognition of independence, and by no means not only Chechen. And the preservation of the status quo implies that neither in Chechnya itself, nor in Russia for decades, or even centuries, nothing will change at all.

However, the experience of Russian history teaches that this is possible.

Vitaly Portnikov - Kiev journalist, author and host of the Radio Liberty program "Road to Freedom"

Opinions expressed under the heading "Law" may not reflect the point of view of the Radio Liberty editorial