Putin gives Kadyrov control over human rights

Russian president Vladimir Putin gave his loyal Chechen boss full control over human rights in the region Wednesday in a move aimed at improving stability there ahead of a re-election bid.

Russian news agencies said Putin had dismissed Abdul-Khakim Sultygov as his Chechen human rights representative, enabling Chechen president Akhmad Kadyrov to oversee the issue in a troubled region heavily criticized for rights violations.

Moscow says the region is returning to normal under Kremlin-backed Kadyrov, elected in October. But separatist rebels continue to operate.

Kadyrov welcomed Putin's decision, which strengthens his authority in the rebellious region.

"We are gradually becoming a real Russian region," Itar-Tass news agency quoted Kadyrov as saying.

Rights groups accuse pro-Moscow forces of widespread rights violations in Chechnya, where separatists have fought Russian rule for more than nine years. The allegations are difficult to check because of an information blackout in the area.
Putin's crackdown there has contributed to a 70-percent popularity rating in Russia that makes his re-election a near certainty at March elections.

Editors note: See also the article "Abdul-Khakim Sultygov dismissed as Special Envoy of the Russian President for Human Rights and Freedoms in Chechnya".