Chechen Prime Minister in Exile Akhmed Zakayev on War, Resistance, and Russia

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Why We Fight, I speak with Akhmed Zakayev, the exiled Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.Zakayev lays out his case that Chechnya remains under Russian occupation, describing life inside the republic as lawless and repressive, and arguing that the Chechen struggle is not a recent conflict but part of a centuries-long resistance to Russian imperialism.We discuss the legacy of the Chechen wars, the role of Russian propaganda in shaping Western perceptions, and why Zakayev believes those wars were the prelude to Russia’s invasions of Georgia and Ukraine. He also explains how a government in exile operates, how Chechens abroad maintain ties to those at home, and why he believes independence is essential for the survival of the Chechen people.The conversation explores Chechen culture, its emphasis on honour and equality, and what freedom and democracy mean from a Chechen perspective. Zakayev also makes a broader argument: that lasting global security depends on the end of Russian imperialism.This is a rare, in-depth interview with one of the most prominent figures in the Chechen independence movement—on history, identity, and the future of a nation still fighting to exist.Support the show