Chechnya, the tiny Caucasian republic that was the scene of two deadly wars a quarter century ago, has long been out of the news. But to say Ahmed Zakayev, No one in this tiny land has forgotten the prime minister of the Chechen government in exile. “300,000 dead” This brought about both conflicts; This is equivalent to the extinction of at least 15% of the local population. Nor are there the shadowy attacks or hostage takings at the beginning of Vladimir Putin’s term, nor the acts of terrorism organized by Russian services, which, according to him and many other voices, allowed the Kremlin leader to justify the invasion of his country as a provocation. brutal repressions.
How do you evaluate the internal situation of the regime? Vladimir Putin? Is it getting stronger? What’s going on inside the Russian elite?
If we talk about Russia, I believe that Putin does not decide everything, contrary to what many people think. It’s not Putin’s system. The system that currently governs the country began to come into effect during the Gorbachev period. More than 30 years ago. Even during the time of Yuri Andropov, when the KGB realized that they would lose the Cold War with the capitalist world, they began to establish this system. The world was divided into capitalist and socialist (and the secret services) realized that they would lose in every field and began to produce scenarios that would change the situation. Under Andropov, the so-called young reformers were sent to the West, they were sent to study market economics. We are talking about the 80s, this strategy was already being designed at that time. With Putin, the secret services simply completed this strategy, completed their entrenchment in power. The war in Ukraine frustrated their plans because they did not count on such resistance. And they didn’t think the world would really help Ukraine. Because of all this, there are contradictions (among regime members). This system (priority of secret services) is at the peak of its development. From now on, only the falling process is detected. And the system will collapse.
How long might it take for this to happen?
Everything will depend on Ukraine’s military success on the battlefield. The system could collapse only after Russia’s military failure in Ukraine.
What is the most important element in making this happen?
Most importantly, arms shipment to Ukraine is the most important issue. Continue to support Kiev in its war. Both physically, with weapons and other means. The world must make a strong statement, this collective must make Putin understand that, as I understand it, he will not get tired of fighting against him and will not allow Ukraine to be defeated.
How do you evaluate the situation in Chechnya? In principle, nothing is moving, and it seems that Akhmed Kadyrov managed to prevail through terror.
It is not true that Akhmed Kadyrov managed to repress and terrorize the civilian population. We have historical experience in resisting the Russians. I am sure that 90 percent of the Chechen people have not given up on the idea of independence. The Chechen people expect radical change. And only after change happens in Russia will change in Chechnya be possible. And the situation in Russia will change only with the victory of Ukraine. The entire (Chechen) people are watching the development of events (in Ukraine).
Are there people in Chechnya who support Kadyrov?
Yes, in your circle and among your close family members. It is an environment that is fed and received from your hands. This segment of society exists, it has always existed, even under the tsars or the Soviet empire. However, the majority of the population is still in favor of independence.
Do Chechens still believe that it is possible to live within the Russian Federation after the wars of the 90s?
The losses of the Chechen people are huge; some estimates put it at 300,000 people, 40,000 of whom are children. Therefore, I believe that we have no future as part of Russia. We must leave the Russian Federation and the Kremlin must face responsibility in the international court of sadism. And thanks to the war in Ukraine, we have a real chance of holding war criminals accountable. Ukraine has launched an investigation into war criminals, and Putin is currently wanted and has an international arrest warrant for him. The first priority for Chechens is to clear our country of occupation, which will only be possible after Russia’s defeat in Ukraine, and the second is to force Russia to account for its crimes. I just want to remember the Soviet period. We were in exile for 50 years by Stalin’s order. And the main motivation of the Chechens during this period (to move forward) was to save our government, our State. Today, no one has forgotten anything after the murder of 300,000 people twenty years ago, a tragedy that Chechens remember well. Today’s Chechens are more motivated than those who managed to rebuild our State 30 years ago.
Do you think that all these dark and dubious acts of terrorism, which once allowed Putin to justify the second Chechen war, will one day be brought to light, like the attacks in Moscow and Volgodonsk in 1999, in which 300 people died?
I am completely sure of this. These terrorist acts carried out by Russia, such as the explosions in Moscow and Volgodonsk in the 1990s, the hostage taking of the Dubrovka theater or the hostage taking of Beslan, are actions organized by the Russian secret services. I’m sure we have enough evidence; Moreover, there were other reasons behind each of these terrorist acts: the Moscow and Volgodonsk explosions (in 1999) brought Putin to power. After the hostage taking at the Dubrovka theater in Moscow, Putin liquidated all (independent) media outlets, and after Beslan, Putin rebuilt the so-called ‘power vertical’. In other words, after every terrorist act, there was a political change. This confirms that Russia and its services are behind these actions.