This week, I want to touch on a topic that’s been rattling around my head for quite some time: the question of which parts of the Chechen security apparatus matter most. After all, the overall number of units is large and continually growing, but not all play an equally important role. Understanding which ones are significant helps focus attention — both for monitoring and accountability purposes. With that in mind, here’s what you can expect this week: How to determine which units matter The...
14 days ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday! I hope your week is going well. Mine has been decidedly meh, although I did get to meet up with a motley crew of Russianists, which is always fun. I didn’t think I’d have anything newsletter-worthy this week, but then the Kadyrov regime popped up and did something…so here I am! What I want to touch on this week is yet another example of the Kadyrov regime flaunting its ability to violate the law — and what we can expect if Adam Kadyrov succeeds in replacing his father. With that...
21 days ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday! When I’m not working, I sometimes like to do things that bear no relation or resemblance to work. One of these is playing computer games. Nothing fancy, I don’t try to be any good, and I usually prefer sports. But, of late, I’ve started playing an online strategy game called Total Battle. It falls into a recognisable genre: You have to develop a city and build armies to defeat other players and monsters. One of the big work projects I’m working towards is a detailed exploration...
28 days ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday! As I write this, the early morning sun is trying to break through and bring a little bit of joy to the day. The world hasn’t properly started yet and there’s still a degree of calm and quiet. But for a slight deficit of sleep, it’d be delightful! This week, I wanted to reflect on the latest sanctions against members of the Kadyrov regime — and how they (again) highlight the inconsistencies and flaws of the sanctions regime as a whole. With that in mind, here’s what you can...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Things appear to be pretty quiet at the moment — both personally and politically. A quiet interlude, if you will. But that’s no bad thing, so I’ll try and enjoy it while it lasts! This week, I wanted to reflect on an interview given recently by several representatives of the Sheikh Mansur Battalion — the one fighting on Ukraine’s side in its war against Russia, not the identically named pro-Kadyrov unit. In particular, I want to consider what it says about the armed opposition’s plans for the...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday! I hope the sun is shining on you and giving you all the inspiration you need. And maybe some tasty tomatoes. They’re one of the best things about summer, after all, and it’s not too long before the winter takes them away. This week, I thought I’d offer a very brief portrait of the Erzi Battalion, a new unit launched in Ingushetia with the goal of waging Russia’s war in Ukraine. It won’t be particularly in-depth — more of a snapshot of what is known thus far. But it might serve...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
How is your summer going? After a couple of weeks away (from the newsletter, not the desk, though I did find time for a few days off), I’m waltzing back into your inbox with another issue of Tracing Patterns. I hope you missed me… This week, I want to look at the Chechen regime’s efforts to take control of donations for Palestine — and what it tells us about the current state of that regime. Specifically, I want to argue that it reveals something about the insecurities and weakness of the...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday! I hope this week is bringing you joy and you are either enjoying some rest or fired by inspiration. Both are equally acceptable! My attention has been a little scattered this week as I’ve flitted between projects and tasks. Also, I’ve allowed myself to be distracted by the joy of redesigning my office, so that I can comfortably use my second computer (designed for greater security). It’s the little things… I’ll be taking a break from the newsletter over August. I may drop in if...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Happy Friday! A couple of weeks ago, Kabardino-Balkaria was back in the news for all the wrong reasons, after two unidentified men attacked police officers in Nalchik. The incident left one attacker dead, another wounded and in detention, and one civilian and one police officer injured. The head of Kabarbino-Balkaria, Kazbek Kokov, vowed that there would be "no mercy" for those who "violate the constitutional order." The incident is the latest reminder of the persistent instability that...
3 months ago • 3 min read