07 June 2004 10:28
New pro-Moscow Chechen president will not change Russian policy - web site
Russian policy towards Chechnya will not change, regardless of who becomes the next pro-Moscow Chechen president,
according to an article on The Chechen Times web site. "The one thing that might change is the selection of
bureaucrats who successfully look after the finances flooding in from Moscow." All the presidential candidates are
looking for ways to please Moscow, the article said. For example, businessman Malik Saydullayev is talking about
investing in the Chechen economy. The following is the text of A. Baysultanov's report on The Chechen Times web
site on 4 June headlined "A bunch of Kadyrovs":
[Moscow-based Chechen businessman] Malik Saydullayev has again tried to "break into" the presidential
election race. It is a strange thing that this man, who has knocked together a fortune from gambling, does not
understand the rules of his business: it is not just impossible to beat the system, but even to try to is dangerous
enough if one is talking about political games. A scam by a petty con man is a far more honest occupation than the
"presidential elections in Chechnya".
In a recent interview Saydullayev told journalists: "I will make every effort to ensure that these elections are
honest, even if it means I lose everything." [Former Groznyy Mayor Beslan] Gantamirov said much the same thing,
although with one look at the Kremlin. It comes to something when these candidates could make an obvious farce seem like
an honest undertaking. We have said more than once that authoritarianism in Russia cannot allow the elections to be
free. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin needs these elections to be run in a way that suits him personally. All the
contenders understand this and are trying to "grope" for that general line which will please the Russian
president. The in-thing now is to attract investments into the Chechen economy. The realities are such that, with the
fighting still going on, the only way to attract investment into the republic is to put pressure on those who, in normal
circumstances would not even think of putting money in the Chechen economy, even in their boldest dreams. Saydullayev is
a typical "new Russian" and talk "about investments" is the natural way for him to draw attention to
himself.
Practically all the proposed candidates, when they speak about the elections, say they are worried they may not be
democratic. It is only the clear outsiders and those candidates who are confident of the power of Putin's
"administrative resources" who are calm about them. Among these are [One Russia MP Ruslan] Yamadayev and
[Chechen Interior Minister Alu] Alkhanov. One Russia has already spoken about nominating the former. As far as Alkhanov
is concerned, then his frequent television appearances suggest that he, too, will be participating in the elections. The
fact that Yamadayev's name was not mentioned at a meeting of "supporters of Kadyrov's cause" held at
the Dinamo stadium recently proves obliquely that Yamadayev, who calls himself "a continuer of Kadyrov's
cause", is not supported by "Kadyrov's people". They spoke about "continuing the cause in
principle". This meeting coincided with the initiative of the pro-Putin One Russia party, which Yamadayev belongs
to, and this fact very clearly indicates that "Kadyrov's people" themselves would not want to support
Yamadayev. It goes without saying that if there is a very clear signal from the Kremlin, all these minor
misunderstandings will be removed in an instant. But for the moment there has been no such signal. Alkhanov will stand
only if the Kremlin lobby is confident not so much of his success, as that he will "not offend anyone" by
standing.
This silence by the Kremlin could be taken for agonizing over the choice of the most suitable candidate. In fact,
this is not the case. No matter who is appointed president in Chechnya, there will be no change in Russian policy there
so long as it suits Putin personally. In reality, not one of the governors-general will carry any political weight
whatsoever. The one thing that might change is the selection of bureaucrats who successfully look after the finances
flooding in from Moscow. The new functionary is the one who will stand at the head of this pyramid. In return Moscow
will demand unswerving commitment to all its orders and instructions, without the slightest sign of dissatisfaction or
attempt at "discussion". That is precisely why all the "candidates" can be described as "a
bunch of Kadyrovs" . The only thing that really worries Moscow is how strong the next "president" will be
at staying in office - an annual "Chechen presidential election" is not at all in the Kremlin's
plans.
[The Chechen Times] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
