Political analysts explain Kadyrov's unwillingness to mark anniversary of Chechens' deportation

On February 23, the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, refrained from marking the anniversary of Chechens' deportation by means of public actions in order "not to strain the situation," experts believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2011, in Chechnya, the mourning events related to the deportation of Vainakhs were moved from February 23 to May 10 – the date of Akhmat Kadyrov's funeral. In 2020, the change in the attitude of Chechen leadership to the mourning date surprised local residents; and analysts explained that the legalization of commemoration of the deportation victims had to do with the strengthening of Kadyrov's position.

Kadyrov was guided by Putin's mood and decided "not to disturb him with memories of such unpleasant events," Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the "Civic Assistance" Committee*, has stated.

Kadyrov did this "in connection with the general political situation," said Akhmet Yarlykapov, am expert on the Caucasus.

Alexei Malashenko, a political analyst, has recalled that Kadyrov, in his own words, is "a Putin's infantryman." "And in the today's tense atmosphere, he decided not to interfere with Putin," the expert has stated.