16.03.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

New cabinet appointed by President Kadyrov; cabinet includes close friends and relatives of Kadyrow as well as former rebels ("Chechnya: Kadyrov Chooses A Cabinet Of Close Friends") [ID 19453]

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19.02.2007 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Prime minister and warlord Ramzan Kadyrov has been made acting president of Chechnya on 15 February 2007, after president Alkhanov has resigned ("Chechnya: Kadyrov Promotion Fury") [ID 18870]

"A year before he leaves office, President Vladimir Putin has made his ally, 30-year-old prime minister and warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, acting president of Chechnya, defying widespread criticism of his human rights record. On February 15, Putin accepted the resignation of Alu Alkhanov, who was formally elected president of Chechnya two and a half years ago, but has long since been eclipsed by his younger rival. Ramzan Kadyrov is the son of Alkhanov’s predecessor as president, Akhmad Kadyrov, who was assassinated at a Victory Day parade in 2004. Alkhanov, who will now become a federal deputy minister of justice, was also awarded the medal “For services to the fatherland” fourth class by Putin to sweeten the pill of his departure. Kadyrov is now acting president. Few doubt he will now get the job on a permanent basis but some formalities have to be gone through first. (...)

Kadyrov will still have less than total control in Chechnya, when he takes up the presidency, facing opposition especially from federal security agencies loyal to Moscow, such as army, the FSB and parts of the interior ministry - not to mention what remains of the pro-independence rebels. A wide circle of figures, both in Chechnya and Russia, some of whom have criticised Kadyrov in the past, have rushed to endorse him for president. "

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06.03.2006 - Source: Guardian

Ramzan Kadyrov, who leads a private militia which is accused of brutality in Chechnya, appointed prime minister after withdrawal of Abramov ("Warlord named as Chechen PM") [#45786],  [ID 15948]

"On Saturday Ramzan Kadyrov - the son of the pro-Moscow president Akhmad Kadyrov, who was assassinated in May 2004 - was appointed Chechnya's prime minister. The appointment continues his political rise, which few doubt will see him advance to Chechnya's president when he reaches the requisite age of 30 in October. His predecessor, Sergei Abramov, ethnically a Russian, quit last week after being badly injured in a car accident. Mr Abramov's predecessor, Anatoly Popov, left the post, claiming that he had been poisoned. Mr Kadyrov leads a thousands-strong paramilitary force which has taken over much of the Russian military's battle against Islamist and separatist insurgents in Chechnya. According to Human Rights Watch, the militia are behind many of the disappearances in the territory."

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05.10.2004 - Source: BBC News

Chechnya: new president Alu Alkhanov was sworn in ("New Chechen president sworn in") [#26116],  [ID 15949]

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01.09.2004 - Source: BBC News

Chechnya: Alu Alkhanov has been officially named as the new president of Chechnya ("New Chechen president confirmed") [#25298],  [ID 15950]

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21.05.2004 - Source: BBC News

Kadyrov's son Ramzan made deputy head of the Chechen government; senior officials in Chechnya pressing Putin to allow Ramzan Kadyrov to run for the Chechen presidency ("Chechnya sets date for election") [#22482],  [ID 15951]

Some senior Chechen officials have been pushing for Ramzan to run for the presidency. They have asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to overrule the local constitution, which says the 27-year-old is too young to stand.

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10.05.2004 - Source: BBC News

Chechnya: Chechen Prime Minister Sergei Abramov has taken over as the new leader of the republic ("Putin 'to avenge' Chechen killing") [#22067],  [ID 15952]

"Chechen Prime Minister Sergei Abramov has taken over as the new leader of the republic, after the assassination of President Akhmad Kadyrov on Sunday. The Kremlin-backed president was among those killed in a bomb attack in the capital, Grozny. Mr Abramov - who was in Moscow at the time - is reported to be consulting his cabinet about how to respond. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed revenge for the bombing, which is being blamed on Chechen guerrillas. The estimated death toll varies between six and more than 30. About 50 are thought to have been wounded. Security forces throughout Chechnya have been placed on high alert and Russia's Itar-Tass news agency has reported that five people have already been detained on suspicion of involvement with the attack, according to interior ministry officials. Mr Kadyrov was fatally wounded when a device exploded during a ceremony marking victory in World War II. The bomb went off in a VIP seating area of the packed Dynamo stadium in Grozny. There is uncertainty over the fate of the commander of Russian troops in Chechnya, Gen Valery Baranov, who was also in the stadium at the time. Officials have denied reports that he was killed by the blast and said he was fighting for his life in hospital."

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09.05.2004 - Source: BBC News

Chechnya: Akhmed Kadyrov killed in a bomb attack during a ceremony marking victory in World War II ("Chechen president killed by bomb") [#22066],  [ID 15953]

"The pro-Moscow President of Chechnya, Akhmad Kadyrov, has been killed in a bomb attack in the capital, Grozny. Reports of the total number killed in the blast at the city's Dynamo stadium vary between six and more than 30. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Mr Kadyrov was a true hero and vowed revenge for the attack thought to have been carried out by Chechen rebels. Mr Kadyrov's death is being seen as a huge blow to Moscow's attempts to restore order in the troubled republic."

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31.03.2004 - Source: ReliefWeb

Chechnya: President of Chechnya Appoints Russian Sergei Abramov to the post of the Head of the Government of Chechnya ("OCHA Humanitarian action in Chechnya and Neighbouring Republics (Russian Federation) Mar 2004") [#21633],  [ID 15954]

"On 16 March, the President of the Chechen Republic, Akhmad Kadyrov, appointed Sergei Abramov to the post of the Head of the Government of Chechnya to replace Anatoly Popov. Before this appointment, 32-year-old Sergei Abramov headed the inspectorate on Chechnya in the Audit Chamber checking the spending of budgetary funds in Chechnya, including payments of compensations for lost housing. From 2000-2002, he was Finance Minister of the Chechen Republic. According to the acting Head of the Government, Eli Isayev, this appointment could accelerate the return of the Russian-speaking population to Chechnya. "If a Russian Prime Minister heads the government, the Russian-speaking population's trust in this government will grow," Mr. Isayev said."

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17.03.2004 - Source: Caucasian Knot

Premier Anatoly Popov dismissed by Prime Minister Akhmed Kadyrov ("Kadyrov dismisses Chechen premier, appoints new one") [#21631],  [ID 15955]

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08.07.2003 - Source: BBC News

Head of Moscow-backed administration: Akhmad Kadyrov ("Profile: Chechnya:") [#15327],  [ID 15957]

"Akhmad Kadyrov became head of the pro-Moscow Chechen administration in June 2000 after Russia had withdrawn its recognition of the Chechen leadership and imposed a form of direct rule. His previous relations with Moscow were far less cordial. Kadyrov commanded guerrilla units fighting the Russians for independence between 1994 and 1996. An Islamic moderate, he graduated from a Muslim seminary in Central Asia and became mufti of the Chechen Republic in 1995. However, in 1999 he was clear in his condemnation of Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev who led rebel fighters into neighbouring Dagestan in support of calls for an Islamic state and holy war against Russia. He also called on Chechens not to put up armed resistance when Russian forces returned to the republic later that year. Aslan Maskhadov branded him a traitor and sacked him as mufti. Although in the eyes of the Chechen rebel leadership he remains the Kremlin's puppet, he has been critical of Russian actions and, in particular, has openly accused Moscow's forces of brutality against Chechen civilians. He has also complained of Russia's failure to invest adequately in Chechnya's future. There have been numerous reports of attempts on Kadyrov's life. Following the March 2003 constitutional referendum, Kadyrov is to be acting president of Chechnya until presidential elections, scheduled for October 2003, in which he intends to be a candidate."

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06.2003 - Source: Defence Academy of the United Kingdom - Advanced Research and Assessment Group

Responsibilities of the Chechen President, as in Article 70 of Chechen Constitution ("Chechnya: Normalisation (by C. W. Blandy)") [#20017],  [ID 15959]

"1. The President of the Chechen Republic directly or through the organs of executive power of the Chechen Republic guarantees the implementation of a single state policy in the sphere of the social economic development of the Chechen Republic, and in the areas of finance, science, education, public health, social security and ecology. 2. The President of the Chechen Republic: a) represents the Chechen Republic in relations with federal organs of state power, the organs of state power of subjects of the Russian Federation, the organs of local selfgovernment and in respect of external-economic and international connections; b) signs and promulgates laws of the Chechen Republic or turns down laws approved by the Parliament of the Chechen Republic, signs negotiations and agreements on behalf of the Chechen Republic; c) brings to the attention of the President of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation and other organs of state power of the Russian Federation drafts of acts the adoption of which is within their competency; d) from the agreement of the National Assembly appoints the chairman of the government of the Chechen Republic, his deputies, ministers carrying out delegated powers in the spheres of finance, economics, industry and agriculture and also relieves them of duty; appoints other ministers in their place and governs the organs of executive power of the Chechen Republic in conformity with the republic law; (...)"

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