ACPC Weekly News UPDATE
November 2, 2009 – November 8, 2009

Another political victory for Kadyrov as Grozny airport is awarded international status

Last week, the Interstate Aviation Committee, an executive body overseeing the use and management of civil aviation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, granted an international certificate to Grozny Airport effectively granting control of international cargo and passenger traffic in and out of Chechnya to the government of Ramzan Kadyrov. This highly anticipated decision was a significant victory for the young Chechen President who had been actively lobbying the Kremlin for the certification ever since President Medvedev signed a decree ending Counter-Terror Operations in Chechnya in April, 2009, a decision that many experts considered a crucial step in providing the legal framework for the eventual international certification.

Chechen officials announced that the first international flight from Grozny will carry pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to make this year’s haj trip. The certification is also a symbolic victory for Kadyrov who is eager to portray Chechnya internationally as a stable and prosperous republic. But the situation on the ground has been anything but peaceful in the recent months despite repeated claims by Kadyrov that increased violence and repeated suicide attacks are desperate efforts by the armed militant underground that is in its last throes. Last week marked 200 days since the end of Counter-Terror Operations announced by President Medvedev on April 16, 2009. According to data compiled by the Caucasian Knot, an online news portal that covers the North Caucasus region, at least 208 people (17 civilians, 71 security servicemen, and 120 alleged militants) have been killed in Chechnya as a result of the armed conflict between militants and security services. There have also been 29 cases of reported abductions of civilians and alleged militants although exact figures on disappearances are unavailable due to the closing of Human Rights Center Memorial’s office in Grozny following the murder of Natalya Estemirova, a prominent researcher with Memorial, in July, 2009.

Kadyrov has been heavily criticized by the Russian and international human rights communities for the brutal methods employed by his private militias to counter militants and for the persecution of human rights activists and critics in and outside of Chechnya, but the Kremlin’s muted reaction and a steady approval of projects championed by Kadyrov, such as the certification of the Grozny airport, have signaled to the international community that the Kremlin is either unwilling or unable to contain Kadyrov.

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Ingush President suffers political setbacks as violence continues to plague the republic

On the one year anniversary of Yunus-Bek Yevkurov’s presidency, marked on October 30, Yevkurov suffered another political setback when Musa Pliev, a prominent opposition member and special advisor to the president, resigned citing the lack of significant improvements in security in the republic. Musa Pliev was appointed by Yevkurov shortly after taking office as part of a political and social reconciliation strategy, which received a warm welcome among the Ingush.

Despite many laudable overtures toward the opposition and human rights groups, however, Yevkurov has been unable to improve the security situation in Ingushetia. Many regional experts and human rights activists believe that Yevkurov’s biggest shortfall has been his inability to control the federal security services to ensure that anti-terror operations are carried out within a legal framework, a fact that Yevkruov recognizes and continues to attempt to improve.

Following the disappearance of a local resident, Mahsud Makhloyev, after a supposed special operation carried out by security servicemen on October 30, President Yevkurov held a working meeting last week with high ranking security servicemen and members of his administration to discuss his dissatisfaction with inadequate levels of legal norms being followed during special operations. Citing the abduction of Mahsud Makhloyev, whose investigation Yevkurov has taken under personal control, the president stated “I have come to the conclusion that legal violations continue to occur during special operations.”

Such overt frustrations with the security services and seemingly earnest attempts to improve the situation in Ingushetia have allowed Yevkurov to continue to enjoy the support of the Ingush people despite some political setbacks, but it is clear that his political capital diminishes with every act of violence and abuse by the security structures.

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