[War] Russia: "....And Your Enemies Closer"

[Michael Downey]

"....And Your Enemies Closer"
President Leonid Nemerenko
Russian Federation
02 August 2014
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

--------

Politics has no relation to morals. *
-*Niccolo Machiavelli, *The Prince*
--------

It was their final day at the Lake Abrau Dacha. Early tomorrow morning
Nemerenko and his family would all board the President's Il-96 airliner, or
'Red Force One' as the Americans jokingly called it despite being a
post-Soviet design, and fly back to Moscow and their official residence at
the Kremlin. Flying always gave Nemerenko a headache so he was sure to take
a small bottle of aspirin in his pocket.

"I can't believe you were in the Air Force and don't like flying," joked
Yuriko as she packed her husband's bag in their bedroom. Nemerenko had meant
to pack it himself but then gotten distracted with some terrorist attack in
Volgograd that turned out to be a routine building demolition or something
like that. Then there was the call with Williams and then he'd been forced
to sit down with Yevgeni, his Chief of Staff, about some pointless bill
about tariffs on German cigarettes in the Assembly. Sometimes he longed for
the days when the political system in Russia didn't work so he'd have time
to do the simple things. That or just resign.

"I was a supply clerk and I was only there for two years, dear," replied
Nemerenko as he swallowed one of the aspirin tablets before pocketing the
whole bottle. Better get some in his system now than suffer a headache on
the plane for three hours waiting for it to kick in. "Do you know if the
children have packed?"

"Sascha has, I don't know about Hiroki," replied Mrs. Nemerenko. "I'm sure
they'll be ready tomorrow Leonid. Don't worry about them." Of course he did
anyway. The only thing that was more unpredictable than a fourteen-year-old
was a pair of twin fourteen-year-olds that were either bickering with each
other or playing Wii.... and then bickering about that.

"I'm not sure what's going to be more unpleasant," bemoaned the President.
"Meeting with Cherenkov of dealing with either one of them not being ready
to leave tomorrow. Every time we delay I get nervous the FSO might try and
depose me." A little bit of light humor took some of the sour feeling out of
Nemerenko's stomach. He would deal with the antics of his children any day
over having to meet with Malik Cherenkov. "I have no idea how long this is
going to take so tell them good night for me." Yuriko nodded as her husband
left.
---

Malik Cherenkov, President of the Russian federal subject know as the
Chechen Republic, sat casually in one of the dacha's more ornate tea rooms
and sipped on some local brandy. It was forbidden under Islamic law to drink
alcohol but Cherenkov gave little attention to the mad babbling of those
toothless old clerics. There weren't many of them left in Chechnya, or at
least in the northern parts under his nominal control, and the lull in
violence since the early 2000s had put a cap on religious fervor.

Deliberate suppression of clerics by federal forces and the provincial
government installed after the second war had helped too.

They'd flown Cherenkov in on one of those new Tu-444 supersonic business
jets, unmarked but with pilots and guards who were clearly federal military.
Everything had been so fast and secerative that only a handful of people
back in Grozny even knew Cherenkov was gone and he would likely be back in
less than eight hours anyway. The commotion caused by those annoying rebels
had largely been dealt with by the <> out of <> and Cherenkov's own
provincial forces. A bit messy but the job was done. Now Nemerenko was
getting all sentimental and was talking abour reconciliation with the rebel
holdouts in the south. He was a smart man, their President, but sometimes
lacked the ruthlessness his officer required.

"Comrade President," said Cherenkov jovially as Nemerenko finally entered
the tea room.

"Minister Cherenkov," replied Leonid with far less enthusiasm. While the
Chechen leader's official title was president, it was off a federal subject
and not of the Federation as a whole those the more senior Nemerenko used
the honorific of 'minister.' He kieed Cherenkov's cheek as a sign of
respect, as was common among Russians, but even that lacked any true
hospitality. Anyone with a keen eye could see there was no loved lost
between the two men.

"Thank you so much for having your staff prepare a glass of my favourtie
brandy," said Cherenkov, holding up his glass. "Did you just guess or does
the MVD still have agents in my staff?"

"No, your wife talks in her sleep," replied Nemerenko dryly. Cherenkov
laughed.

"What would Yuriko-san think?"

Malik Cherenkov was perhaps the third most despicable person Nemerenko had
ever had the displeasure of dealing with in his career though even he
recognized the charisma that oozed from the Chechen leader. He had a boyish
charm and irreverent, offbeat sense of humor that hid the cold, black heart
that beat beneath his chest. An ex-KGB spook from the First Chief
Directorate, there were plenty of those running around, the Grozny native
was the undisputed leader of the Chechen loyalists and (most) of Chechnya
proper. He ruled with an iron fist, usually cloaked in a velvet glove, with
the backing of the federal military and his Kadyrovtsy militia. 'Militia' as
in private army, not the police-type militsyia. Militia as in 'gang of
thugs.'

"As much as trading barbs would most certainly entertain us both to no end,
I have a plane to catch back to Moscow and I'd like to finish this up
quickly if you don't mind," said Nemerenko as he sat in a nearby armchair.
Cherenkov did the same. "You've read over my proposal?"

"It will work," shrugged Cherenkov. "Or it will fail. I'll reserve my
judgment. It will really depend upon how much of this little outbreak of
violence was the product of Iranian meddling or rebel resolve. Maybe they'll
give up and join the rest of society or maybe they'll hold up in their caves
and cause us periodic trouble like they have since the CCCP came apart. I am
happy about the reconstruction fund you're setting up."

"I thought you would be. See to it that every single ruble of that money
goes where it is supposed to be. The Kremlin will be auditing the fund very
carefully. If a single kopek is misspent then heads will most definitely
roll." He let that warning sink in. "Of course we want to have as much of
the work done by local Chechen residents and companies as possible. We'll
only hire outside help or purchase materials from non-Chechen sources when
absolutely needed." He stared hard and Cherenkov. "I will be monitoring that
money, Minister."

Cherenkov raised both hands. " I will ensure it is well-spent Comrade
President." A pause. "What about this police reform you speak of?"

"You mean what will become of your precious Kadyrovtsy?" asked Nemerenko
with a snort. "To be honest I'd like to throw half of them in a Siberian
prison but the amnesty extend to anything they've done as well. You *will*
disband the army you inherited from Ramazan and cooperate with our efforts
to build a real, professional police ans security force for Chechnya."

"We're talking about over five thousand men. Do you really want that many
fighters unemployed?"

"Some of them will be recruited into the new Grozny or provincial police
forces," answered the President. "You will provide the MVD with all their
records and help them in weeding out the bad seeds. Those that are dismissed
will be properly compensated by Moscow. A pension and benefits fifteen
percent higher than whatever you are providing them now. And of course my
gaurntee they won't get sent to prison."

"We'll work it all out," smiled Cherenkov. "But on the note of reform......"

"You mean what's going to happen to you Malik?" asked Nemerenko derisively.
Always innuendo with this cagey little bastard. "I suppose there are worse
people we could have replaced your predecessor with when he passed away. But
let me make this clear: I intend to drag Chechnya into the civilized,
developed world with every ounce of strength that I have. So long as you
behave as a civilized leader and assist us with our reforms, then I promise
you will remain in office as long as I am in office. I get even a hint of
corruption or behaviour outside of the constitution and the rule of law-"

"I'll die in my sleep like Ramazan?"

"I'll let Kalugin choose whatever natural cause he thinks fits best. Do you
understand?"

"Perfectly, Comrade President, perfectly."
---

Actions:
1) Meet with Malik Cherenkov, leader of the Chechen provincial government.

2) The Kadyrovtsy militia will be slowly disbanded. The MVD will screen out
its members, those that can be recruited into the new police forces and
those that cannot.

3) Kadyrovtsy that are unacceptable as police applicants will be removed,
given full benefits and a pension 15% hire than their current pay.

4) Closely monitor the reconstruction fund. Ensure it is spent as it should
be and not wasted by corruption. Chechen workers and companies will be
employed as much as possible in the continued reconstruction.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://esteroic.com/pipermail/war_esteroic.com/attachments/20080812/babff33a/attachment.html