Once again, the ruler of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, is making headlines. And once again, he has announced his intention to step down from his position. But is it for real this time?
Kadyrov has hinted at resigning on at least five separate occasions. Each time, the official explanation as to why he hasn’t stepped down has been that President Vladimir Putin refused to accept his resignation. As Kadyrov, who likes to call himself Putin’s loyal infantryman, dutifully points out, he is always willing to serve his patron – and so he remains in power. These announcements are often accompanied by choreographed public outcries from Chechnya, where citizens, as reported by local media, plead with him to stay.
Real succession in Chechnya remains far from certain
However, analysts and journalists interpret these proclamations differently. For instance, political commentator Nadezhda Yurova sees them as a tactic designed to extract more power, money, or privileges from the Kremlin.
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