Ramzan Kadyrov

Given its geographical position as a bridge between Europe and Asia, the North Caucasus plays an important role in buffering Russia from outside threats. In exchange for unwavering loyalty and the stabilization of the region, Russian President Vladimir Putin has entrusted Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov with nearly unfettered control over Chechnya. On the surface, it appears that he has achieved a state of stability. Unemployment has significantly dropped from that of the war period, the Chechen capital of Grozny has dramatically transformed from a pile of rubble to a bustling city and, most significantly, the number of politically motivated attacks have dramatically decreased. This "transformation," however, comes at a very high cost, making it both superficial and unstable. In order to snuff out extremism since his rise to power, Kadyrov has committed and continues to commit a plethora of human rights abuses, ranging from kidnapping to murder. From an economic perspective, the cost of Kadyrov's loyalty is staggering, and both the private and public sectors are plagued by corruption. Radical Islam also poses a significant threat as groups such as the Caucasus Emirate and the Islamic State vie for influence in the region. This research aims to answer whether Kadyrov's abusive policies, as well as related outside factors, pose a threat of renewed political violence in Chechnya by analyzing policies regarding Chechnya's security apparatus, economy, and Islam. This analysis asserts that while Kadyrov's methods of leadership have provided short term benefits in stabilizing Chechnya, these successes have come at a very high cost and factors which contribute to the likelihood of political violence persist.