Russia rearms former rebels to patrol Chechnya

By James Kilner

SHALI, Russia (Reuters) - At the barracks nestled in the Caucasus mountains, the Chechen military officer popped a chunk of moist, fatty mutton into his mouth and leaned across the table.

"We now have new weapons, new armored personnel carriers, sniper rifles and anti-mine equipment," he said wiping the grease from his mouth with the back of his hand.

"The Russians have re-equipped and trained my men."

This is the trade-off that has helped Russian President Vladimir Putin subdue a separatist insurgency in Chechnya that raged for more than a decade.

Moscow has armed and equipped a local army loyal to Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, a former rebel leader, and given it the task of keeping control. The danger, say analysts, is that this force could turn against the Kremlin.

Government handlers supervise foreign journalists visiting Chechnya but Reuters gained a rare opportunity to go unsupervised to a base in the town of Shali where a unit of the paramilitary police, called the "Kadyrov regiment", is based.

To one side of the barrack's dining hall, four Chechen soldiers stood smiling.

They wore black bandannas and new camouflage uniforms, ammunition magazines filled their chest pouches and they cradled modern Kalashnikov automatic rifles with grenade-launchers fixed to the barrels.

The officer leant back in his chair. Deep lines creased his face and his pale blue eyes sparkled with pride.

"Look at these men," he said waving his arm at the soldiers. "They've just come back from spending three days hiding in the snow. The Russians can't do that."

Outside in the courtyard of the barracks stood an armored personnel carrier -- another gift from the Russians.

Flying from its hatch was not the Russian flag, but the Chechen banner with a portrait of Kadyrov's father, assassinated by rebels, superimposed on the cloth.

WHO IS THE ENEMY?

Analysts warn that by arming Kadyrov and his men, the Kremlin may have created something it can no longer control.

"Many in the Russian military and intelligence services believe the real enemy is not the remaining rebels but these Chechen military units," Pavel Felgenhauer, an independent Moscow-based military analyst, said.