Closeness to Kadyrov remains main factor in Chechen cadre policy

The appointment of Ramzan Kadyrov's nephew as the head of his administration will increase the political status of Ibragim Zakriev in connection with his closeness to the head of Chechnya, Ruslan Kutaev, an Orientalist, has stated. The degree of influence of Chechen officials is defined by their personal relations with Kadyrov, Rinat Mukhametov, a political analyst, and Alexei Malashenko, an expert, have noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 10, Kadyrov appointed his nephew, Ibrahim Zakriev, who was the Mayor of Grozny, to head the united administration of the head and government of Chechnya. Local residents treat the new Zakriev's appointment as a continuation of Kadyrov's cadre policy.

The situation in Chechnya is defined not by cadre reshuffling, but by informal relations, the political analyst, Rinat Mukhametov, believes. According to his story, such a structure of state ruling is identical in all regions of Russia.

Alexei Malashenko, a member of the expert council of the Moscow Carnegie Centre, has characterized Zakriev's appointment as "a bureaucratic game for the sake of strengthening the power." According to the expert, the influence in Chechnya is defined not by one's post, but by the closeness to the head of the region.

"This is a traditional semi-totalitarian society, where one can invent any post; but an official will be as influential as he is close to the ruler," Mr Malashenko has concluded.

Let us remind Recall that on February 11 the deputies of the Grozny City Duma announced a contest for the post of the Mayor, vacant after Zakriev's transfer to the Chechen administration.