The North Caucasus: Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia

[kaur]

A top judge has been shot dead in the latest act of violence to shake the Russian republic of Ingushetia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8093354.stm

President Medvedjev in FSB centre in Dagestan. Behind the backs of Caucasus kings are standing Ivanov (Russia's narco szar) and Patruchev (ex head of FSB).

[bourbon]

Bomber Strikes Kremlin's Chief of Restive Province, by Allan Cullison. The Wall Street Journal, June 23, 2009.

The attack on Mr. Yevkurov was more sophisticated than other recent strikes on government officials, who have been mostly lower-level functionaries with little protection. Mr. Yevkurov's motorcade was struck Monday as the Ingush president was being driven to work near the regional capital of Nazran. The bomber maneuvered an explosives-laden Toyota sedan past a police escort before detonating it near Mr. Yevkurov's armored Mercedes. The blast killed two of his bodyguards. It left Mr. Yevkurov in "serious condition" with a concussion and broken ribs, said his spokesman, Kaloi Akhilgov.

The attack, he said, was apparently timed to coincide with the five-year anniversary Monday of a daring rebel raid on the Ingush capital of Nazran, when Chechen and Ingush gunmen briefly seized the city and killed nearly 100 police and security officials.

The Kremlin has been using Ramzan Kadyrov, the President of nextdoor Chechnya, for its regional dirty work. Kadyrov has a pet tiger, reportedly keeps a dungeon in his basement, and hangs out with Mike Tyson; he's a real sweetheart. And it looks like the Kremlin is going to set him loose on the insurgents:

On Tuesday Mr Kadyrov said he had been ordered by Russia's Dmitry Medvedev to run operations in both countries.

He told Reuters: "He told me to intensify actions... including in Ingushetia. I will personally control the operations... and I am sure in the near future there will be good results."

[kaur]

Last night Kadyrov accused in Vesti channel international terrorism and West that they are responsible for Yevkurov's assassination attempt. That happened during on-line interview. Moments later Vesti published this video on their website. "West" is cut out and interview ends very abruptly. It seems that Russians are waiting Obama's visti

This is the cut video (in Russian of course) http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=295611

[bourbon]

Kadyrov’s relationship with Moscow is very interesting. They seem very dependent on him, and it is interesting when they do pull his reigns. The military it seems don’t trust him, and GRU had maintained the Yamadayev clan and Vostok battalion as a hedge. Kadyrov neutralized them last year and has consolidated his power, making Moscow’s dependency on him even greater.

[kaur]

bourbon, isn't this called balance of power?

I'd like to add to this sad thread beautiful notes. Following pictures are form Kadyrov's garage.

http://users.livejournal.com/_patrick_/3577190.html

[bourbon]

Yes, I should have used that phrase. It has been reported that Chechen oil is very lucrative for Russian Army Generals, so I can imagine there is some economic self interest in making sure Kadyrov does not get too powerful.

[kaur]

I think there is not only talk about oil. Generals deal with oli, lower ranks have their own business. For example couple weeks ago 1 OMON unit commander was arrested in Russia. His unit soldiers worked as super market security guards in Chechnya. They did this during their official working time.

Here is article in Russian - http://www.gzt.ru/print/241379.html