Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen (Chechnya) republic, said on Thursday that a thousand Chechen volunteers are on their way to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Kadyrov said on Telegram that one of his relatives, Apty Alauddinov, “is leading a thousand volunteers of the Chechen Republic.” He said these people were going to participate in Russia’s military campaign to make Ukraine “Nazi-free” and “civilized”.
Who is Russia and Putin’s loyalist Chechnya?
Chechnya is a republic located in the southern part of Russia, which is mainly surrounded by Russia. Although some part of it also comes from neighboring Georgia. Although Russia and Chechnya have been fighting for centuries, the Putin government conducted a controversial referendum in Chechnya in March 2003. Since then, everything happens there according to Russia.
The new constitution for Chechnya was approved by referendum and autonomy was granted to Chechnya. However, it was also made clear that Chechnya is part of Russia. Chechnya is a Muslim-majority region and millions of people were sent into exile during Joseph Stalin’s rule.
Who is Ramzan Kadyrov?
Ramzan Kadyrov is the son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov who switched sides in the Second Chechen War and became Chechen President in 2003. He offered his service to Vladimir Putin’s regime in Russia in the Second Chechen War and turned to Putin’s side. Akhmad Kadyrov was assassinated in May 2004. In February 2007, Ramzan Kadyrov was replaced as president.
Ramzan Kadyrov has been the leader of Chechnya since 2007 and is a Putin loyalist. That is why since Russia attacked Ukraine, Ramzan has been continuously threatening Ukraine. Now he has said that 1,000 Chechnya fighters are going to Ukraine to fight for Putin and that one of his relatives is leading those fighters.
Arrive yourself to fight?
There are even reports that Ramzan himself has reached the front. On March 13, he posted a video which claimed to have been shot at Hostomal airfield near Kyiv. Ramzan wrote on his Telegram account, ‘We will show that the Russian people know the art of fighting far better than any foreign theory or suggestion of military advisers.’