Russia Under President Vladimir Putin

Ilya Yashin talked about the national security threat posed by Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the Russian republic of Chechnya, and his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Yashin released a report in February 2016 that argues Ramzan Kadyrov and his supporters have systematically harassed and threatened Russian opposition politicians who speak out against President Putin’s regime. In his report, Mr. Yashin says that Kadyrov is a threat to Russia’s national security and calls for his resignation. Mr. Yashin also said that under the leadership of Mr. Kadyrov, Chechnya had become an ideal environment for terrorist organization recruiters. Mr. Yashin is the deputy chair of the People’s Freedom Party, which was co-chaired by Boris Nemtsov until he was killed on February 27, 2015.

Mr. Yashin spoke Russian with English translation following. close