Chechnya president killing: Your views

The pro-Russian president of Chechnya, Akhmad Kadyrov, has been buried.

The president died in an explosion in the capital, Grozny on Sunday.

Officials say at least 30 people died when a bomb exploded at a stadium during an annual parade celebrating the end of the Second World War.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the Chechen leader as a "true hero".

The Russian military commander in the region was also seriously wounded.

Send us your reaction to the attack. What does this mean for the future of Chechnya? How should Russia react?

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This debate is now closed. Read your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

So Chechnya has blown up again. Of course the Iraq deal between the Russians and the Americans meant that this area was swept under the carpet. Russia since the time of Stalin has been determined that Chechnya shall not separate because of its Geo political importance. The fact that it is predominantly Muslim is not forgotten by the Islamic world. Russia must bite the bullet and sort this out Politically and not militarily
Tony, Welling, Kent

If Kadyrov was Kremlin puppet why did 2000 Chechen people attend his funeral? Irina, Chechnya

I do not understand why western media could hardly suppress their smiles while reporting on killing of Chechen President Kadyrov? They obviously not happy with fact that situation their has started to normalise: Chechens have started to return to work and peaceful life. And if you think that Kadyrov was Kremlin puppet how you explain 2000 Chechen people at his funeral and mourning all around Chechnya - are all them are also Kremlin puppets? Westerners do not really bother about Chechen people, they just want to spit on Russia.
Irina, Chechnya

Russia and the Russians have brought nothing but death and misery wherever they have gone. Just ask any Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Pole, Ukranian, etc. Russia has no business in Chechnya. Get out.
Ulme Muld, Tallinn, Estonia

All those commenting here should remember two facts: Chechnya has never been an independent state, but always a province possessing more or less autonomy, and Chechnya differs from other Muslim or Buddhism provinces of Russia really not significantly. Russia is a huge federation, and, like with any other huge state, in incorporates lots of heterogeneous autonomous areas. The latter is a reason for some of the problems this country tries to cope with, and I hope that they will be solved in a more democratic and peaceful way than they are being solved now.
Yuri, Arkhangelsk, Russia

Kadyrov was a courageous man who had the vision to look forward and work towards returning normalcy to Chechnya. Russia is a country composed of many different nationalities, where local governments represent ethnic composition of each region, and any suggestion that Chechnya become an independent state is no more realistic than demanding cessation of Northern Ireland from the UK, a Basque country from Spain, or Kurdistan from Turkey. As for the Russian reaction to the assassination, the progress in the political process should continue and next in line should head the government with a new election following in a few months.
Sergei, Russia

The hard line will continue - for the time being it is the only option Vladimir, Russia

I don't have any illusions how big was the influence of Kremlin on Kadyrov - it was huge. However, let's face the facts - when Kadyrov came to power, the process of giving up arms by rebels at least started. A few influential rebel leaders gave up. Of course sponsors from abroad could not like it. Look at the pictures from the crime scene - how much do you hate people that you would harm your own kids and elderly men. Kadyrov is kind of a hero - the attempts to kill him count by tens of times. Still he did not give up. The hard line will continue - for the time being it is the only option.
Vladimir, Russia

Conflict in Chechnya has been going on since 1991 and it should be clear by now that Russia will not let go of this region. What Russia should seriously consider is to give Chechnya autonomy and a leader chosen not by Kremlin, but Chechen people (in a fair and free elections) that would accordingly represent its people and not interests of the president Putin.
Eva, Kennesaw, US

It is amazing how quick the Western audience is to blame "brutal Russians" for all the atrocities in Chechnya. And, apparently, it is so obvious to them that there are easy solutions to this problem! The anti-Russian hysteria in the Western media reached what it meant to: more hate is created. As to the Chechen problem itself, it is much more complicated than oil (there is practically no oil there, your media has "forgot" to tell you that!), think about Caucasus and its stability as a whole, about other nations there, like Armenia for example. I don't think they want Russians out of that region. Who will take their place? Americans? Or Ben Laden? Thank for solving our problems and telling us what to do, but it would be great if you sort out yourselves first, and places like Northern Ireland, the Basque country, Corsica, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan and so on. And then start advising the rest of the world.
Liza, Russia, Moscow

The terrorist act had the purpose to show that Chechens don't want a Russian puppet government. It's a direct result of the Russian ultimatum policy and refusal to negotiate with 'terrorists' The struggle between the imperialists and the Third World people in Chechnya and everywhere else will continue until the last tone of fossil fuel is used up.
Martin Marinos, Pernik Bulgaria

This act is a clear message to the international community and we have to live with that. It can be blamed or it can be supported, one way or the other please, people let's live in peace. Why can't we simply live together, there is enough space for everyone one of us. If you will ask the people who have survived the war I am sure they all will answer the same.
Radik, Tajikistan

Failure to see the real face of terrorism and naive liberalism of Europeans will result in more attacks like the ones in Chechnya, Moscow and Madrid
Alex Brok, Dallas, TX, USA

Many of the BBC readers/viewers seem to be missing the point that Kadyrov was a Chechen. Furthermore, many of the people who died in the stadium were Chechens. Many are quick to condemn Russia yet no one seems to care that dozens of innocent people were killed or maimed by Muslim fundamentalist terrorists
Andrew, New York, USA

Chechen people have been fighting for their independence for more than 200 years Artun, Istanbul, Turkey

Russia should clear out the Wahhabi terrorists in Chechnya and then leave immediately. Chechen people have been fighting for their independence for more than 200 years and it would be a shame if the civilized world turns a blind eye to Russian atrocities because the wrong people are funding Chechen freedom fighters.
Artun, Istanbul, Turkey

Wherever you go now, you'll find that most Muslim minorities are under oppression! Isn't natural that they react? They are under occupation or victims of stereotyping. Not to say they are perfect but they are targeted in many places around the world, even in their homeland
James, Oklahoma US

The rhetoric of Russian 'invasion in' and 'occupation of' Chechnya is misleading. Russia is made up of many peoples and nationalities, and that what Russia is - it is not a nation state in the western sense. This is why after the collapse of the USSR Russia is anxious to prevent further disintegration as it will be disastrous for everyone - witness the poverty of the former Soviet republics. As for human rights, this is an issue on which Russia should be pressed not only in Chechnya but in general.
Greg, Warwick Uni

Well! If East Timor could get liberated why not Chechnya, Russia should have realised the price that they would have to pay for their forceful occupation
Syed Manzoor Ahmed, Saudi Arabia

I am unsure whether people truly understand the level of tragedy with regards to the impact of this attack on the future of negotiations in Chechnya. Kadyrof was the last credible figure from the Chechen side - no other person can establish trusted control over this lawless region. As for Putin - the death of his commander might leave an open position for a more obedient person? It's hard to picture the involvement of the international community for a long time to come.
Jelena, Lille, France

Russians must understand that Chechneya although being a part of the Former USSR (captured from the Turks) is fundamentally different from Russians in every way, culture, religion etc so it is impossible for it is not easy for them to co-exist especially when other smaller parts of the USSR were granted full freedom, which were much closer to Russian society, then why not Chechneya.
Haroon, Canada

We can't leave Chechnya as it is Lena, Moscow

I am Russian and I know it from the inside. The relations are not that simple as we have hundreds of years of complicated history behind us. We can't leave Chechnya as it is - it has many bandits who have been brought up with guns in their hands and hatred in their minds. But the Chechen civil population is suffering and Russian people are dying - that is not right.
Lena, Moscow

Chechnya won't have a strong leader anymore and this is bad mostly for Chechen people, not for Russia. The only positive outcome from this is an opportunity to hold more democratic presidential election in Chechnya.
Ramazan, Kyiv, UA

It is sad, but not surprising that Mr Ahmed Kadyrov's life was taken in such a manner. He was clearly a pro Russian leader imposed upon Chechnya from the Kremlin. The majority of the population are against this as they remember only too well the atrocious human rights violations by the Russian army ten years ago. It clearly demonstrates that you cannot reach a bi-partisan agreement by crushing the opposition into submission using military might. It is high time that Mr Putin seeks true dialogue with Chechens and not just the Pro-Russian minority.
Amjid Mahmood, Manchester, UK

Kadyrov was a rare find and a tragic loss for the Russians because he had a reasonable reputation in Chechnya and was pro-Russian. Having tried to suppress other leaders to groom Kadyrov, the Russian government's oppressive policies have left a large power vacuum in Chechnya that could see a return to even more bloody combat and terrorism.
Prashanth Parameswaran, Washington DC

Chechnya has been a part of Russia for two centuries Vlad, Moscow, Russia

It's a shame that some people here dare compare what's been happening in Chechnya with the situation in Iraq. Chechnya has been a part of Russia for two centuries now. And unlike American oil interests in Iraq the war in Chechnya was a matter of Russia's territorial integrity. Unlike Yeltsin, Putin seems to a have some kind of a long-term strategy towards peace in the troubled region and Kadyrov was a part of it. He was well supported by the local population and his assassination clearly shows that he became a real threat to the terrorists. Let's hope Putin will manage to find a replacement.
Vlad, Moscow, Russia

If the Russians let Chechnya go, this will just stir up separatist feeling in surrounding regions! This will create even more trouble. Russians should just concentrate on education in Chechnya and creating more jobs and eliminating the separatists at the same time!
Anna, Tbilisi, Georgia

Each time there are casualties in Chechnya everyone immediately starts blaming Russia for all the abuse and people that have died there. But why isn't no one blaming the Chechnya rebels, and warlords who send suicide bombers into Russia and kill hundreds of innocent people. The US and Britain and the European countries say that they are fighting terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq, and then some of those terrorists go to Russia and start killing there. But no, once they are in Chechnya it's always Russia's fault.
Eugene, USA

There is no good reason for Chechnya to remain a province of Russia. This explosion is a terrible thing. It will undoubtedly provoke more violence from Russia. But Kadyrov was a puppet. It is time for Russia to let Chechnya become independent and choose their own leaders. The crimes perpetrated by Russia against the Chechen people are much worse than this. It is a mistake to compare this to other acts of terrorism by extremists around the world.
Chad, Denton, Texas USA

The resistance may at times subside but will never go away. Heydar, USA

As a citizen of Azerbaijan - a small country in the Caucasus that found itself under the heavy yoke of Russian occupation. I find myself fully sympathetic with the cause of Chechen and in the grander scheme - of Caucasian resistance to the occupation. This war - imposed on the Caucasus by Russia - has been going on for way too long and it's time end it. To end it Russians need to learn about the Caucasus - we will not accept Russian occupation - the resistance may at times subside but will never go away.
Heydar, USA

It is amazing that reaction on the killing of the intelligent and brave man who actively tried to normalize Chechnya by cooperating with central government is met with series of almost gloating remarks and yet more cries for intervention into Russia's internal affair. Chechnya has no 'natural resources' to plunder - in fact her tragedy is that it has no economy to speak of and nothing valuable except her people. Shame on the western media and commentators who cannot see that Kadyrov was in fact on his path of pulling Chechya out of chaos - as for the suggested intervention schemes - we already see the result of such attempts in places like Kosovo and Bosnia.
Janetta Bogatchenko, Acton, USA

President Kadyrov was incredibly courageous, true leader who survived multiple assassination attempts. He showed to the entire world the will of Chechen people for peace with Russia, and that 90% of Chechens condemn so-called rebels. For the last 4 years, he demonstrated that the current conflict is not the conflict between Russians and Chechecns, but between peaceful Chechen majority and small but violent Islamic extremist minority, most of whom aren't even Chechens but "missionaries" from all over the world.
Max Khusid, Pittsburgh, US/Russia

This assassination of Akmad Kadyrov will lead to more killing of the long suffering Chechen people. It seems that the world press only pay attention to the war in Chechnya when an 'important' person is killed. When the ordinary citizens are killed and brutalized every day it is ignored.
Ameen, Melbourne, Florida

I find it quite odd that involved in every trouble spot in the world today - Thailand, Sudan, Georgia, Phillipines, Chechnya to name a few -there are Muslim terrorists. Clearly there is a connection.
Alistair Asquith, New Jersey, US / London

Chechnya has been brutally occupied by Russia, Tsarist and Soviet, for over 200 years. It is time that the so called 'Quartet' (UN, US, EU & Russia) come up with a 'Road Map' plan for the independence of Chechnya. It is ironic that Russia tries to tell other nations what to do in cases like this when they do not follow such principles in their own country.
Emil Petrescu, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

"Warmongering" leaders will be condemned to the annals of history James Hardwood, USA

Its a sad state of affairs when we overlook the killing of thousands of Chechens under the brutal and barbaric invasion of the Russian army. Russia still refuses to allow access to Chechnya by international monitors. Putin would be thinking he can get away with this, just as Bush is hoping to do in Iraq. These "warmongering" leaders will be condemned to the annals of history.
James Hardwood, USA

Does anyone commenting upon this horrible scene in Chechnya really understand what is behind the extreme anger and resentment there? It reminds me a bit of the seeming U.S. bewilderment in Iraq that we, the liberators, were not met with a flower strewn path for our tanks!
Bob McClellan, Polson, Montana USA

It will be sad and discouraging if the response to such atrocities focuses solely on punishment and revenge. It is about time that Putin's cabinet take advantage of their creativity and administrative capabilities to craft long term solutions, rather than continue to yield to populist pressures and unduly perpetrate the cycle of violence.
Oleg Rupchin, New York, USA

Russian should respond with full force. Wouldn't any other country do the same if they were attacked? After-all Chechnya is a part of Russia, and why doesn't anyone talk about the Russians killed by Islamic extremists?
Nina

How glad Putin must be of our own shameful behaviour in the Middle East Mary, Bristol, UK

It seems the Russians are just as successful at plundering Chechnya's natural resources and imposing their values to the Chechen people as we are plundering Iraq's resources and imposing our values on the Iraqi people: not very. How glad Putin must be that our own shameful behaviour in the Middle East is taking international attention away from his own deeds. His 'Chechnya president' puppet was killed, I've just heard. He'll just replace him with another. Let's hope the same fate does not await whoever the US appoint as 'Iraqi president'.
Mary, Bristol, UK

This shows that there must be a solution for the Chechnya problem, and it cannot be reached with out rebel participation.
Mori, Japan

Horrible news, but don't you get the feeling the western media is almost happy about this?
Paul, Sydney, Australia

It is not surprising or unexpected. After the violent disintegration of the Soviet Union, they assumed that each and every region will have "independence". This does not solve the problems and as long as economic deprivation continues, there will always be fundamentalism, separatism coupled with terrorism!
Srinivasan Toft, Humlebæk, Denmark

It's about time people realised that innocents are paying the price once more Neil Small, Scotland

Once again we have a terrorist outrage. But, once more the liberal brigade will blame Putin for everything and will be highly critical of whatever action he takes to track down those responsible. It's about time people woke up and realised that innocents are paying the price once more.
Neil Small, Scotland

This terrorist act once again shows us that there is a group of people in Chechnya who are too addicted to killing both officials and ordinary people to understand that such actions will not in any way change the situation in Chechnya.
Alexander, Cheboksary, Russia

It is surprising given the on-going situation in Chechnya that the security at such a high profile event was not enough to prevent the attack. It will however mean little to the Chechen people -100,000 died in the initial invasion in the 1994 (only 10 years ago). Any action by Russia after this attack could probably not be any worse. The public reaction from Russia will probably be simply to replace Kadyrov (if he has died) and select known targets to imprison. Covertly the revenge promised by Putin will probably be extreme with the usual resulting retaliatory action by Chechens.
Pat, Ilford, UK

I think we can expect more carnage like the one we have witnessed at the Dinamo Stadium in Grozny. The Russians perhaps should seriously consider cutting their loses and getting out of that region. Staying there would be pointless.
John, Seattle, USA

Such dreadful reprisals are to be condemned but are hardly surprising given the history of Russian abuse of human rights in Chechnya. It should serve as a warning to the commanders of coalition forces in Iraq, if any were needed.
John McKendrick, Oxford, UK