Sufism

• The orders came in the wake of an antisemitic riot that broke out on Oct. 29, 2023, in the neighboring Russian republic of Dagestan.
• It is not that Kadyrov doesn’t support the Palestinian cause; he does.
• Kadyrov is both feared and venerated throughout Russia, and even more so since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• How did the leader of a small North Caucasian republic become such a feared figure in Russia?

Ruthless rise to power

• Shortly after the beginning of the second Chechen war, which lasted from 1999 to 2009, Putin – who increased his power and popularity due to his aggressive role in the conflict – installed Akhmat as the leader of the republic.
• He used these years to consolidate his power and ensure his political ascension.
• To achieve this, he worked on eliminating his political rivals, including those who were once close to his father.

Violent suppression of dissent

• This highly professional paramilitary force, colloquially known as the “Kadyrovtsy,” is formally integrated into the interior ministry and national guard.
• These troops serve as a private army that suppresses dissent within the republic and eliminates Kadyrov’s opponents beyond its borders.
• Kadyrovtsy also fought in the Syrian civil war as part of Russia’s military support for Syrian president Bashar Assad.

Zealous loyalty to Putin

• This autonomy is largely due to the personal relationship between Putin and Kadyrov.
• Soon after Akhmat Kadyrov’s death, Ramzan famously arrived at the Kremlin wearing a tracksuit, and Putin sincerely comforted the grief-stricken young man.
• In return for Kadyrov’s zealous loyalty and his largely successful efforts in suppressing the North Caucasian insurgency, Putin ceded nearly complete control of Chechnya.

Islam as a political tool

• Under Kadyrov, Sufism in Chechnya flourished and became the only acceptable form of Islam.
• Within Chechnya, Kadyrov uses religion to galvanize supporters and demonstrate his political power.
• Kadyrov, meanwhile, also uses Islam to boost his profile on the international stage and bolster his political standing in Russia.

‘I am the boss!’

• He presides over Chechnya – which waged two wars against Russia in the past 30 years in pursuit of independence – with impunity.
• I am at the steering wheel!” Kadyrov boldly proclaimed in 2011, a mere four years after Putin installed him as the republic’s president.
• Russian law seems powerless to hold Kadyrov accountable, a fact the Chechen strongman underscored in 2015.
• While he remains loyal to Putin, he has his own agenda and cannot afford to be seen as weak.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.