RUSSIA IMPORTING CHECHEN ELEMENTS INTO OCCUPIED UKRAINE: ISW

Sun 11 December 2022:

Chechen officials are increasingly being appointed to maintain control over occupied regions of Ukraine, the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said.

The Chechen Republic and affiliated officials have a history of brutality and are not well-renowned for administrative capabilities. Nonetheless, they have played a significant law enforcement role and acted as security services in occupied portions of Ukraine throughout the war, it said.

“Russian occupation administrators seek to integrate Chechen officials into their occupation structures to consolidate their administrative control by capitalizing on Chechen expertise in oppression and security functions,” the ISW said.

“This suggests that dissent and Ukrainian partisan activities are challenging the ability of occupation regimes to govern effectively,” it added.

According to ISW, Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov stated on December 8 that a Chechen delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Ibragim Zakriev visited Kherson Oblast and met with Kherson occupation Head Vladimir Saldo. Saldo praised the Chechen Republic for being an example of economic well-being, resilience, and growth following years of devastating conflicts and stressed that he hopes to learn from the Chechen experience in developing a model of administration for Kherson Oblast.

Ukrainian Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov similarly noted that Kadyrov appointed a Chechen official to “share the experience of the formation of the [Chechen] republic.” Fedorov emphasized that this official is largely meant to maintain control over local pro-Russian collaborators and terrorize the civilian population.

The same Chechen delegation also met with the Zaporizhia Oblast occupation administration to discuss cooperation and development measures. The Chechen Republic and affiliated officials notably have a history of brutality and are not well-renowned for administrative capabilities, but Chechen detachments have played a significant law enforcement role and acted as security services in Russian rear areas in occupied portions of Ukraine throughout the war.

It is therefore likely that Russian occupation administrators seek to integrate Chechen officials into their occupation structures to consolidate their administrative control by capitalizing on Chechen expertise in oppression and security functions. This suggests that dissent and Ukrainian partisan activities are challenging the ability of occupation regimes to govern effectively, and the integration of Chechen models of administration is likely meant as a mitigating factor.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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