Blood feud and business: could the Wildberries conflict spark a war in the Caucasus?
15 October 2024 18:53
ANALYSIS FROM 
The conflict between the co-owners of the Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries, which has entered the public arena, has become an unexpected catalyst for tension in the North Caucasus region. It would seem that corporate disputes within a company could hardly have serious consequences outside the business environment, but given the specifics of the region and the socio-economic situation there, this conflict could have wider implications. Moreover, against the backdrop of Ramzan Kadyrov’s threats of blood revenge, these events are taking on a broader context of regional and business relations in the North Caucasus.
Will we see a new war within the Russian Federation in the near future?
Kadyrov accused Russian billionaire and Dagestan senator Suleiman Kerimov, who is close to the Kremlin, and two other State Duma deputies of allegedly plotting his assassination and announced a blood feud. In other words, Kadyrov threatened to kill the officials.
What is “blood revenge”?
Blood rev enge (known as “blood feud” in Chechnya) is an ancient custom in Chechen culture and many other Caucasian peoples, which implies the duty of a family or clan to avenge a killed or injured relative. This tradition has deep historical and cultural roots and plays an important role in maintaining honour and justice within a community or clan. Although the tradition of blood revenge is considered a relic of the past, it remains influential in some parts of Chechen society.
By the way, Chechnya analyst Musa Lomayev has drawn attention to a number of violations of Kadyrov’s declaration of blood revenge. He says that in this form, blood revenge is considered arbitrary in Chechen society and means nothing.
“Blood revenge is not declared in this way. Especially not by one person, especially not in this form. If a person is in a high position, he or she has no right to speak or mention blood revenge at all. […] Blood revenge is declared when there are two parties. Blood revenge is declared after consideration of the oldest and most knowledgeable people of the religion, that is, Islam,” Musa Lomayev
Lomayev added that such statements by Ramzan Kadyrov indicate that he has begun to lose his influence both inside Russia and in Chechnya.
Kremlin tolerates blood revenge
Valeriy Klochok, political expert and head of the Tower Centre for Public Analysis, in an exclusive commentary for
“Yes, strange processes are taking place in the region. For example, the recent explosion at a petrol station in Grozny, which killed four people, does not seem to be accidental. On the eve of this incident, Ramzan Kadyrov announced a blood feud with two MPs, which underscores the seriousness of the situation. He would not have made such statements for nothing, and the fact that the Kremlin has not yet reacted is indicative,” Valeriy Klochok said
There have been no statements from the Kremlin after Kadyrov’s threats, as the head of Chechnya is an important tool of intimidation for both Russians and opposition forces.
“The story of Boris Nemtsov’s murder is an example of this, as there is a lot of evidence of Kadyrov’s involvement in this crime. The very fact of the existence of the Kadyrovites is a significant factor of influence for Moscow,” Valeriy Klochok
According to the political expert, even during Kadyrov’s illness, the Kremlin had no plans to change his management system. Although they discussed possible successors, including his son or Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Akhmat special forces, the strategy of maintaining control over Chechnya through Kadyrov’s men remained unchanged.
Is a war in Chechnya possible today and what does Wildberries have to do with it?
Valeriy Klochok believes that a large-scale conflict in Chechnya is unlikely at the moment.
“Kadyrov’s men have already played an important role in suppressing discontent in Dagestan, in particular during the partial mobilisation in autumn 2022 and religious unrest. As for Chechnya, I don’t see any real prerequisites for a war to break out there now,” Valeriy Klochok
Kadyrov’s announcement of blood revenge only strengthens his position and influence in the region, summarises Valeriy Klochok.
Dmitriy Zolotukhin, an expert on information warfare and competitive intelligence, is confident that the collapse of Russia, in particular because of the war inside, can be forgotten for now.
“In the context of the conflict over Wildberries, regional elites are once again demonstrating the fact that the Kremlin cannot and does not want to be an arbiter of conflicts. The Kremlin’s only tool is bluffing and manipulating the behaviour of elites who prefer a quiet existence,” Dmytro Zolotukhin
Yes, there is an imbalance between the regions and the centre. But it does not and cannot have a national basis. Almost all of the cases have commercial origins in corporate conflicts, says Zolotukhin.
“The situation with Wildberries has almost nothing to do with tensions between the Ingush and Chechens. It’s all about money. And if it’s all about money, then we need to promise the regions not that they will be independent of Moscow, but that they will have more money,” Zolotukhin said
Wildberries is a Russian online retailer of clothing, footwear, electronics, children’s goods, household goods, etc. It is one of the most successful private companies in Russia. In addition to Russia, it operates in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. in 2019, it became the largest fashion retailer in Russia. It is founded by Tatiana Bakalchuk.
How economic disputes turn into political problems
The internal conflict between the management and regional partners, exacerbated by governance issues and accusations of corruption and unfair profit-sharing schemes, has been attracting increased attention for several months now.
What makes the situation special is the involvement of co-owners and regional partners from the North Caucasus. The region, which has historically been an area of conflict and disputes over influence, remains vulnerable due to an unstable economy, high unemployment and strong ties to the clan system. In such an atmosphere, even economic disputes can quickly escalate into broader social and political conflicts.
While Putin kisses the Koran, the conflict in Russia is under control
It remains to be seen whether the conflict between the co-owners of Wildberries could give rise to new instability in the region. Although economic disagreements can escalate into conflicts that political or clan structures use to strengthen their influence, the Kremlin has so far managed to keep things under control. At least as long as Kadyrov and Putin’s bond remains strong. The head of the government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Akhmed Zakayev, said in an interview with the YouTube channel Fabrika Novostei that Putin kissed the Koran for a reason.
“Kadyrov will never betray Putin. Moreover, Kadyrov has long been looking for a foothold in the Middle East. If you recall the meeting between the mufti of Chechnya and Putin, when the latter kissed the Koran. There are rumours that Putin may convert to Islam. And this will be one of the options when he tries to save his life,” Akhmed Zakayev
The conflict between the co-owners of Wildberries is thus a signal of how interconnected economic, political and social aspects are in complex regions such as the North Caucasus. Although the dispute is primarily business-related, it could have serious implications for regional stability. Resolving the conflict is key to preventing an escalation of tensions and possible new waves of confrontation in a strategically important region. Time will tell whether the Kremlin will succeed.
Author – Anastasia Fedor
