Curses on Stalin emphasize Kadyrov's inconsistency

On the anniversary of the restoration of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR), Ramzan Kadyrov cursed Joseph Stalin. The residents of Chechnya interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have recalled the ban on mourning events on the anniversary of deportation.

"I repeat again – let Stalin, who gave the order to perpetrate reprisals against the Chechen nation, be damned," Ramzan Kadyrov wrote in his page of the "VKontakte" social network.

This is not the first time Kadyrov has been cursing Stalin; but he himself is pursuing an inconsistent policy, residents of Chechnya have noticed. They recalled that in 2014 Kadyrov made a reservation, accusing Chechens themselves of the deportation.

Fatima, a resident of Chechnya, has recalled that in the republic, deportation anniversaries are not officially marked, unlike the neighbouring Ingushetia. "Our government is simply confused about historical issues and is speculating on sensitive topics," she said.

In his turn, Alexei Malashenko, a member of the expert council of the Carnegie Moscow Centre, believes that Kadyrov is sincere in his attitude towards Stalin.

Akhmet Yarlykapov, an expert on the Caucasus, also thinks that Kadyrov's statement about Stalin is not an act of self-promotion.

"Kadyrov is positioning himself as the president of all the Chechens; and among them there is a consensus regarding Stalin that he was the dictator who is to blame for the deportation of Chechens," Mr Yarlykapov has explained.