Analysts compare appointments in Kadyrov's administration with Kremlin's cadre practices

Idris Baisultanov, a Ramzan Kadyrov's cousin, has become a deputy to his fellow villager Galas Taimaskhanov, appointed earlier to the post of the head of the administration of the head of Chechnya. This demonstrates the family-clannish cadre policy that is characteristic not only of Chechnya, but also of the federal authorities, the experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 10, the head of Chechnya approved his fellow villager Galas Taimaskhanov as the head of his administration. Kadyrov's cousin Idris Baisultanov became Taimaskhanov's first deputy.

The new bosses officially took office on July 15 and began performing their duties, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the office of the head and the government of Chechnya.

The appointments of Kadyrov's relatives and fellow villagers to key leadership positions strengthen the regime of his personal power and have become a norm, local residents believe.

"These appointments are additional evidence that Ramzan [Kadyrov] continues strengthening the regime of his personal power. The administration of the head and the government is one of the most serious ruling institutions in our republic that controls the activities of all the ministries and agencies," said Aslanbek, a resident of Chechnya.

The appointments of Taimaskhanov and Baisultanov are in line with the cadre policy not only of the Chechen leadership, but also of the Kremlin, said Ruslan Kutaev, the president of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations. "This is not Chechen specificity – it's a result of the Kremlin's policy," he told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Dmitry Oreshkin, a political analyst, agrees that the appointments of Taimaskhanov and Baisultanov fail to stand out against the background of the Kremlin's policies.

"The system of ruling in Russia and Chechnya is built on the system of personal loyalty. If for Vladimir Putin these are law enforcers, in the Caucasus these are family and clannish ties," Mr Oreshkin told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 17, 2019 at 11:14 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.