20 March 2016, 17:10
Political analysts: Kadyrov gains his political weight by playing patriotism
Ramzan Kadyrov's offer to pay the fine instead of footballer Tarasov is a link in the chain of attempts to gain political weight by exploiting patriotic feelings, said the experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".
On February 21, Kadyrov stated that the Grozny "Terek" Football Club (FC) was ready to buy the footballer Tarasov together with the fine imposed on him. The head of Chechnya said that Tarasov "was not trying to insult the opposing team."
On February 16, the "Lokomotiv" FC from Moscow lost to Turkish "Fenerbahce" 0:2 in the first match of 1/16 finals of the Europa League. After the match Tarasov took off his game jersey, under which he had another shirt with the image of President Putin and the inscription: "The most courteous president". For this player's act, the "Lokomotiv" FC fined Tarasov by 300,000 euros, and the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) added a personal fine of 5000 euros.
After the announcement of UEFA's decision, Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press secretary, said that "the Kremlin is not ready to help the footballer in paying the fine."
"While respecting the 'Lokomotiv' FC and Dmitry Tarasov, we ask to let us pay the fine of 5000 euros imposed on the player," says Kadyrov's address to the bosses of the "Lokomotiv" FC.
Kadyrov is trying to "gain political weight by exploiting patriotic feelings," said Varvara Pakhomenko, a researcher with the International Crisis Group (ICG). According to her story, Kadyrov is trying to show the Kremlin that he is "with Russia and he is a friend."
Kadyrov's statement has to do with his desire to "declare once again his commitment to the federal centre," said Dmitry Oreshkin, a political analyst.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Oleg Krasnov Source: CK correspondent
