Kadyrov Revamps His Cabinet…

Chechen Republic President Ramzan Kadyrov reorganized his government on April 10, cutting the number of deputy prime ministers from eight to three. That same day, Chechnya’s parliament unanimously confirmed Odes Baisultanov, Kadyrov’s cousin, as the republic’s prime minister. Among the posts that Kadyrov eliminated was that of deputy prime minister in charge of the republic’s law-enforcement structures, currently held by a close associate, Adam Delimkhanov. “By bringing the siloviki under his direct control and making the position strictly formal … Mr. Kadyrov has concentrated all political power in his own hands,” Kommersant wrote on April 11.

According to the newspaper, Delimkhanov is expected to be named first deputy prime minister, while Lema Magomadov will remain deputy prime minister for social issues and Abdul-Kakhir Izrailov will be made deputy prime minister in charge of the presidential executive staff and the government. Agriculture Minister Khasan Taimaskhanov, Finance Minister Eli Isaev, Industry Minister Amadi Temishev and the republic’s representative to the Russian president, Ziyad Sabsabi, were all deprived of their deputy prime minister ranks. Kommersant noted that the demoted officials had been named deputy prime ministers under Kadyrov’s predecessor, Alu Alkhanov.

The newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying that unlike Alkhanov, Kadyrov will not allow anyone into the top posts, other than those who “conscientiously” carry out his will, and that Baisultanov, who was praised for rebuilding the Grozny airport and the republic’s cement plant, is an “excellent manager” who has manifested no political ambitions. By way of contrast, the source cited the case of Khusein Dzhabrailov, who was recently transferred from the post of first deputy prime minister to the “insignificant post” of Chechen presidential representative in Moscow. Dzhabrailov’s political prominence had become an impediment to him in Chechnya, said the Kommersant source, noting that his brother, Umar Dzhabrailov, who represents Chechnya in the Federation Council, is “a person well-known in both entrepreneurial circles and in politics” who tried to run for Chechen president in 2004.