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Russia Profile Weekly Experts Panel: The Last King of Chechnya. The Prospects and Pitfalls of the Kremlin’s Policy in North Caucasus
Introduced by Vladimir Frolov
Russia Profile,
03/09/2007The installation of Ramzan Kadyrov as Chechen president completes a major phase of operations in the republic. But questions remain about his allegiance to Russia and sentiments inside Chechnya. What does Kadyrov’s appointment tell us about the evolution of Chechnya? Is Putin putting too much trust in a young and ruthless leader? Will Putin go down in history as the Russian leader who pacified Chechnya?
The Chechen Gamble
Comment by Sergey Markedonov
Special to Russia Profile,
03/05/2007
The Kremlin's orchestration of Ramzan Kadyrov's appointment as president has damaged the integrity of political institutions, and not just in the Caucasian republic.
A Long-Awaited Promotion
Comment by Sergey Markedonov
Special to Russia Profile,
02/19/2007
Alu Alkhanov has been replaced by Ramzan Kadyrov, at least for the time being. But whether Kadyrov remains president of Chechnya or not, the removal of Alkhanov indicates the completion of a process of Chechenization begun long ago.
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ALKHANOV, Alu Dadashevich
Deputy Justice Minister, Former President of the Republic of Chechnya
04/21/2010
Alu Alkhanov (Алу Дадашевич Алханов) was born in Kazakhstan on January 20, 1957. He fought in the Russian Army in the First Chechen War and was controversially elected president of Chechnya with 73.7% of the vote in August of 2004.
Alkhanov joined the Soviet Army when he finished school and went on to join the Soviet Militsiya service in 1983. He later graduated from police training institutes in Mogilev and Rostov-on-Don before becoming deputy head of the North Caucasus Transport Department of the former Chechen-Ingushetia government in Grozny in 1992. He went on to head this department from 1992 until 1997.
Alkhanov supported the Russian side in the First Chechen War and in April 2003 was appointed Interior Minister of Chechnya in the government of Akhmad Kadyrov, as well as being named a Major General of the Chechen police. Kadyrov was assassinated on May 9 of 2004. Alkhanov, who was the Russian government’s favored candidate, was elected president with 73.7% of the vote in August of 2004. Alkhanov’s platform was similar to Kadyrov’s before him. His policies included continuing to remain part of Russia, economic autonomy, cutting the Russian military presence and opening peace talks with separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov.
There were allegations at the time that Alkhanov had no popular base in Chechnya and that the vote was rigged. Alkhanov’s strongest competition came from Malik Saidullayev, a Moscow-based Chechen businessman. Saidullayev was barred from the final vote on the grounds that he had not filled out his application form correctly. The U.S. Department of State, and International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights questioned the fairness of the elections, highlighting the disqualification of Saidullayev.
In February of 2007, Alkhanov was removed as president of Chechnya and replaced by Ramzan Kadyrov, Akhmad Kadyrov’s son. Alkhanov was appointed deputy justice minister of the Russian Federation in February 2007.
He is married and has three children
