Chechen president takes to the blogosphere

We’ve become accustomed to blogging politicians in the UK. Some of their offerings are relatively thoughtful, others are little more than a sequence of press releases, penned by a member of staff.

In Russia the President himself keeps a Livejournal blog, comprising mainly video entries, in keeping with his modernising image.

A less likely newcomer to Russian political blogging has now emerged from Chechnya. President of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov.

His first article, entitled, I - Kadyrov, is presumably as thrilling in the original Russian, as it is in translation, judging by the scornful reaction reported in the Moscow Times. Unnervingly the Chechen hardman wants to be friends and describes himself as ‘sociable’.

The authorities in Chechnya are clearly delighted with the traffic so far and I would imagine it is inordinately healthy as media outlets pick up the story.

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