Rise of a Criminal
Ramzan Kadyrov’s Tyranny in Chechnya
Namig Abbasov, Emil Souleimanov
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The president of the Russian republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, bases his rule on fear and terror. He employs violence in a targeted manner to eliminate opponents, nip dissent in the bud, and consolidate his rule. After the Second Chechen War, he emerged victorious from the power struggle between various military combat forces. Since then, he has systematically persecuted human rights activists, journalists, civic organizations, and the LGBTQ+ community. He is accused of numerous human rights violations such as torture, abductions, and extrajudicial killings. He does not stop at the borders of the autonomous republic, but takes action against critics and opponents throughout Russia and even abroad. The Kremlin tolerates Kadyrov’s tyranny and thus allows the limits of authoritarian rule in Russia to be expanded further.
(Osteuropa 11-12/2024, pp. 229–242)