Zakayev: a Third Chechen War can be avoided

In his latest interview for Sotnik TV, given in the context of the recent Conference in Brussels, held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the peace agreement between Russia and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, exiled Chechen leader Akhmed Zakayev ponders the increasing hostility towards Chechnya and Chechens that can be observed in Russian propaganda. Chechens are being accused of all bad things - the latest being the fomenting of homophobia, an ironic touch, clearly. At the same time the rise of ISIS continues, and a new generation of young Chechens are espousing jihad and developing a sense that their fathers were "too nice". The level of mutual hostility is now at such a pitch that Zakayev sees the approach of a third Chechen war, and he is anxious to avert it, both for Russia's sake and for Chechnya's. A repeat of incidents like Beslan and Nord-Ost would be in no one's interests, yet that is precisely what waits on the horizon. Zakayev says that a third war can and must be avoided.