As we have been reporting, Ramzan Kadyrov's term as leader of Chechnya is set to expire on April 5. In a previously-unannounced move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Kadyrov as acting head of Chechnya until the presidential elections.
The Russian state-propaganda outlet Sputnik reports:
"Your term ends on [April] 5, as you just mentioned. Based on what you've done over the past years, first of all for the Chechen people and for those living in the republic, but for Russia as a whole as well, I signed a decree today appointing you the acting head of the Chechen Republic, hoping for your participation in the September elections," Putin told Kadyrov at a televised meeting.
Kadyrov posted clips of the meeting on his Instagram page.
It's not yet clear how this decision by the Russian president is legal, since the Chechen constitution was modified already so that Kadyrov could stay on this long.
Of course, as we have seen time and time again from Kadyrov (read below), rules are just not that important to the Chechen leader.The timing of the announcement is also suspect as it falls on a holiday -- but one celebrated in the West, not the East. This is Easter weekend for most Catholics and Western protestants -- Orthodox Easter is in May. As a result, this news may slip under the radar in the West, as may any news about potential backlash to this announcement.
-- James Miller