What It’s Like to Grow Up Under Putin in Chechnya

1 minute read
By Simon Shuster and Carlos H. Martinelli

It is hard to avoid the gaze of Russian President Vladimir Putin when traveling around the region of Chechnya. His portraits adorn public buildings, apartment blocks, highways and airport terminals, encouraging a cult of personality that is far more pervasive in Chechnya than anywhere else in Russia.

The reason has to do with Moscow’s desire to keep Chechnya under control. In the 1990s, Russia fought two wars to prevent the region from breaking away, and Putin’s ascent to the presidency in 2000 was fueled by his victory over the Chechen separatists that year.

Since then, Chechnya has undergone a striking transformation. Its cities have been rebuilt with money from Moscow. All traces of its separatist rebellion have been suppressed. And most importantly, a new generation has been raised to respect—at times even to worship—the Russian leader and his local proxies. With no clear memories of the wars for independence, the young people of Chechnya are now the best guarantee that Russia’s hold over the region will persist.

Read TIME’s most recent story on Putin here.

See Russians Come Out in Droves to Mourn a Slain Putin Critic

Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 1, 2015. People carry a huge banner reading 'those bullets for everyone of us, heroes never die!' as they march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 near the Kremlin.Thousands converged Sunday in central Moscow to mourn veteran liberal politician Boris Nemtsov, whose killing on the streets of the capital has shaken Russia’s beleaguered opposition. They carried flowers, portraits and white signs that said “I am not afraid.”
People march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1, 2015. Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME
Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 1, 2015. People carry a huge banner reading 'those bullets for everyone of us, heroes never die!' as they march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 near the Kremlin.Thousands converged Sunday in central Moscow to mourn veteran liberal politician Boris Nemtsov, whose killing on the streets of the capital has shaken Russia’s beleaguered opposition. They carried flowers, portraits and white signs that said “I am not afraid.”
People carry Russian national flags as they march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1, 2015.Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME
Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 1, 2015. People carry a huge banner reading 'those bullets for everyone of us, heroes never die!' as they march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 near the Kremlin.Thousands converged Sunday in central Moscow to mourn veteran liberal politician Boris Nemtsov, whose killing on the streets of the capital has shaken Russia’s beleaguered opposition. They carried flowers, portraits and white signs that said “I am not afraid.”
People gathered on the streets of Moscow carrying pictures and banners in support of Boris Nemtsov during the march in Moscow on March 1, 2015.Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME
Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 1, 2015. People carry a huge banner reading 'those bullets for everyone of us, heroes never die!' as they march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 near the Kremlin.Thousands converged Sunday in central Moscow to mourn veteran liberal politician Boris Nemtsov, whose killing on the streets of the capital has shaken Russia’s beleaguered opposition. They carried flowers, portraits and white signs that said “I am not afraid.”
People lay flowers during the march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1, 2015. Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME
Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 1, 2015. Former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov plays tribute to Boris NemtsovProtesters, led by former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, chanted slogans such as “Russia without Putin” as they passed the bridge near St. Basil’s Cathedral where Nemtsov, 55, was shot dead Friday.
Former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov pays tribute to Boris Nemtsov during the march in Moscow on March 1, 2015.Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME
Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 1, 2015. People carry a huge banner reading 'those bullets for everyone of us, heroes never die!' as they march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 near the Kremlin.Thousands converged Sunday in central Moscow to mourn veteran liberal politician Boris Nemtsov, whose killing on the streets of the capital has shaken Russia’s beleaguered opposition. They carried flowers, portraits and white signs that said “I am not afraid.”
A woman holds a poster reading 'propaganda kills' as people march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1, 2015.Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME
Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 1, 2015. People carry a huge banner reading 'those bullets for everyone of us, heroes never die!' as they march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 near the Kremlin.Thousands converged Sunday in central Moscow to mourn veteran liberal politician Boris Nemtsov, whose killing on the streets of the capital has shaken Russia’s beleaguered opposition. They carried flowers, portraits and white signs that said “I am not afraid.”
People march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov with a banner reading 'those bullets for everyone of us, heroes never die!' during the march in Moscow on March 1, 2015.Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME
Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 1, 2015. People carry a huge banner reading 'those bullets for everyone of us, heroes never die!' as they march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov who was gunned down on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 near the Kremlin.Thousands converged Sunday in central Moscow to mourn veteran liberal politician Boris Nemtsov, whose killing on the streets of the capital has shaken Russia’s beleaguered opposition. They carried flowers, portraits and white signs that said “I am not afraid.”
People march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1, 2015. Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME

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