A well-known Russian expert on the North Caucasus, Konstantin Kazenin, has warned that the paramilitary groups of North Caucasus leaders may end up destabilizing the Russian Federation. According to Kazenin, several leaders from the North Caucasus have created essentially private armies, which defend their patrons and improve their bargaining positions in local disputes. But he points out that these groups may be used for hire, as in the case of the recent assassination in Moscow of leading Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov (RBC, March 17).
Indeed, after repeated contradictory leaks, the investigators of Nemtsov’s murder have apparently concluded that it was …read more
Source: The Jamestown Foundation