15. feb. 2023 16:39 – Updated 15 Feb. 2023 16:39
– Their future fate is directly linked to Putin, says the political scientist.
Should it be over for Russian President Vladimir Putin, it will also be over for Belarus’ President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Chechnya’s leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
Taras Kuzio, professor of political science at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, believes so.
– Their future fate is directly linked to Putin. Should Putin’s time come to an end for some reason, I simply do not see how Kadyrov and Lukashenko can remain in their positions, says Kuzio to Newsweek.
Putin stands in the way of Kadyrov’s enemies
Putin has for several years had a very close relationship with Lukashenko and Kadyrov.
The close, almost father-son relationship between Putin and Kadyrov is particularly special, and stretches back to 2004. Then Kadyrov’s father, the former Chechen leader Akhmad Kadyrov, died.
Both father and son Kadyrov were strong separatist voices for several years, before switching sides and pledging allegiance to Putin and Moscow.
This has led to Putin currently standing in the way of Kadyrov’s enemies, according to Newsweek.
Among other things, Kadyrov has been nicknamed “Putin’s pit bull”.
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Masks of Vladimir Putin and his “pets” Ramzan Kadyrov and Aleksandr Lukashenko.
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Kadyrov has a plan
Kuzio points out that Kadyrov is, to put it mildly, not very popular among the Russian intelligence service FSB.
He and several experts Newsweek spoke to point out that the apparently close bond with Putin is the reason why Kadyrov has gotten to where he is today.
– Hints of weakness on Putin’s part will then make it more difficult for Kadyrov to retain his position, says Kuzio.
Any indication that the Russian president is on his way out will probably lead to acute paranoia for Kadyrov, he adds.
Kuzio, on the other hand, believes that Kadyrov has already started preparing for what might happen if Putin is no longer in power in Russia.
