Putin's Christian Base Poses a Problem for Chechen Warlord: ISW

Russian President Vladimir Putin's ultranationalist Russian Orthodox base poses a problem for his longtime ally, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a think tank has said.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S.-based think tank, made the assessment in its latest analysis of the conflict in Ukraine on Wednesday.

Kadyrov, a Putin loyalist, has ruled the predominantly Muslim southern Russian republic of Chechnya since 2007.

Orthodox Christians form the majority of Russian society. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has justified Putin's decision to invade Ukraine in February 2022 on spiritual and ideological grounds, saying Russia is a "peace-loving power" that does not engage in "military adventures."

"The Kremlin's support for ultranationalist Russian Orthodox religion and ideology appears to be complicating Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov's ability to balance appealing to his Chechen Muslim constituencies with keeping the Kremlin's favor," the ISW said.

Newsweek has contacted Russia's Foreign Ministry for comment via email.

The think tank said that on Tuesday, Kadyrov delivered inconsistent and potentially inflammatory domestic religious messaging, suggesting that he is struggling to reconcile his enthusiastic support for Putin, who has routinely postured himself as the true protector of the Orthodox Christian faith, and Kadyrov's own persona as a staunch representative of Chechnya's Islamic values.

"Kadyrov will likely continue to draw the ire of Russian ultranationalists who are increasingly opposed to migrants who come from predominantly Muslim Central Asian countries and other religious minorities in Russia with his continued efforts to appeal to his core Muslim constituencies," the ISW said.

Putin and Kadyrov have maintained close relations throughout the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kadyrov's fighters have fought alongside Putin's troops in the war.

The Russian leader held a sit-down meeting with Kadyrov in September. Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported that the pair discussed the situation in Chechnya and the participation of Chechen fighters in Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Kadyrov has been accused by international groups of overseeing human-rights abuses, including abductions, torture, extrajudicial killings and repression.

Ukraine had speculated for months that Kadyrov was unwell. Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov said that the Chechen leader had been unwell for a long time with systemic health problems. Kadyrov has denied the claims.

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