Chechen killings abroad aided or tolerated by Russia

Significance

Chechnya security services appear to be hiring diaspora members to carry out or assist with attacks. Some assassinations have been credibly traced to Russian as well as Chechen command structures.

Impacts

• Chechnya's leaders can afford to behave lawlessly abroad because it is not a sovereign state.
• Sanctions will have little effect as the Chechen leadership portrays them as a 'badge of honour'.
• The Chechen government will focus on limiting access to COVID-19 figures, which seem surprisingly low.