Chechnya: What It's Like to Grow Up Under Putin in Chechnya

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

People march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1, 2015. (Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME)
People march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1, 2015.
Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME
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)
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
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)
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
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)
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
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)
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
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)
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
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)
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
People march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1, 2015. (Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME)
People march in memory of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1, 2015.
Yuri Kozyrev—Noor for TIME
More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com.

You May Also Like
Read Next
Putin's Secret Army
Next Up: Editor's Pick
What America's Richest Ski Town's Handling of COVID-19 Shows
EDIT POST