Vladimir Putin needs Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov so that “compared to him,” the Kremlin leader will appear “in the eyes of the West to be the lesser evil,” Igor Eidman says. Thus, it works to Putin’s benefit to ascribe to Kadyrov all possible horrors and crimes.
Indeed, he continues, it appears that many in the West accept the notion that if Putin were to leave his position, “a new ISIS would appear in Chechnya and Chechen terror would spread to Europe. Therefore,” such people appear to think, “it is better that [Putin] remain at the head of Russia.”
By focusing on Kadyrov’s crimes, Eidman suggests, the West ignores or at least minimized Putin’s and fails to see that the Chechen leader is Putin’s agent, doing what Putin wants but doesn’t want to acknowledge and helping him remain in power rather than being any threat to the Kremlin leader.
Related:
- Man accused of Putin murder plot gunned down in Kyiv, attacker might be linked to Kadyrov
- Moscow continues to cover up mass murder by Chechen authorities
- Kadyrov opens first concentration camp for gays since Hitler’s times
- Political murders will continue in Russia because they are useful to Putin, Feygin says
- Putin is behind the assassination of Boris Nemtsov, his colleague says
- Kadyrov may be loyal to Putin and Russia but most Chechens aren’t, activists say
- Kadyrov – leading indicator of where Putin is taking Russia, Sokolov says
- Kadyrov, Putin and the desensitization of Russia
