MOSCOW, May 4 (AVN) -- The office of Russia's official envoy to the Chechen Republic, as well as the temporary administration of Chechnya, are likely to be replaced by another governing body soon, a high-ranking source in the RF government told the Military News Agency.
Currently the government is working on the structure of the future administration of the rebellious republic, the source said. The work also presupposes recognition of persons to form this administration, mostly of influential Chechens who would be loyal to the federal government. Grozny ex-mayor, Chechen militia leader and now deputy envoy to the republic Bislan Gantamirov is one of the possible candidates, he added.
According to the source, the attempts of certain federal officials and military commanders to turn Gantamirov into a checker in the administration of Russia's envoy Nikolay Koshman have been unsuccessful. Having announced his readiness to resign, Gantamirov has confirmed his status of an All-Chechen political figure.
After this de-march, Moscow even promised the ex-mayor a possibility to influence the distribution of finances being allocated for the restoration of Chechnya. It is expected that Gantamirov will be supervising the tax authorities and the republic's emergency situations department in the new government.
The good attitude towards Gantamirov has recently been demonstrated by promoting him to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, although prior to that he had not even been an officer and was a sergeant, the official said. What is also important is that although the stripes were handed by Chief-of-Staff Anatoly Kvashnin, a respective order was signed by Nikolay Patrushev, head of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
According to the official, so far the federal authorities have to tolerate Gantamirov, because neither Mufti Akhmad Haji Kadyrov, nor current acting head of the republic Khasan Musalatov, nor his deputy Yakub Deniyev have any real power in Chechnya.
In this situation Gantamirov and the forner warlords Yamadayev brothers who enjoy the respect and support of many Chechens and have large formations in command are by far more interesting for Moscow.