IL’YASOV TO CONDUCT CHECHEN AFFAIRS.

On November 7, it was announced that President Putin had issued a decree appointing Stanislav Il’yasov, the prime minister of the pro-Moscow Chechen government, minister of the Russian Federation for the affairs of Chechnya (RIA Novosti and Lenta.ru, November 7). Il’yasov’s promotion seems to represent bad news for his bitter rival, Akhmad Kadyrov, head of the pro-Moscow Chechen administration. On the other hand, it appears to be good news for the Russian power ministries, with whom Il’yasov is often reported to be closely allied. The new appointment also signals that Il’yasov will have perhaps the key say on the lucrative subject of the infusion of Russian state funds into Chechnya.