The CNS explained that they received a sort of "directive" with instructions, which was developed and sent on behalf of Turpal Ilyasov, a representative of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov in the Ural Federal District of Russia. The letter was intercepted from the email of Ilyasov's son, Adam, who works as the head of the secretariat for the representation.
"It demonstrates the degradation of the Russian regime, its total dishonesty, and the rapid loss of foreign political influence. It is also quite likely that the Russian dictator will not punish his loyal vassal Kadyrov or anyone from the Chechen administration at all, instead blaming someone completely insignificant," the center's message states.
The letter contains instructions on what should or should not be commented on regarding the plane crash involving an aircraft flying from Baku that was supposed to land in Grozny.
"We do not comment on the situation surrounding this incident. In the event that comments are allowed, we must avoid terms like 'shootdown,' 'air defense strike,' etc., and instead use phrases like 'regrettable error,' 'aerial event,' 'tragic,' 'coincidence,' and so on. We also do not comment on the operations of air defense forces and means, especially regarding the placement of air defense systems around Grozny – this is the prerogative of the Ministry of Defense," the CNS quotes the letter to Russians.
According to representatives of the Ukrainian army, the letter indicates the illegitimate President of Russia Vladimir Putin's dependence "on the loyalty of his Chechen vassals and henchmen."
"Putin assured Kadyrov that the authorities of Chechnya acted entirely in accordance with the challenges posed by the situation. The tragedy of the accident can be explained by the incompetence and inability to respond flexibly to emergency situations by air traffic controllers. In this regard, rumors about searching for culprits among the authorities of the Chechen Republic and representatives of the law enforcement agencies are unfounded and provocative," another quote from the letter states.
The CNS noted that Kadyrov awarded a medal to his nephew, the Secretary of the Security Council of Chechnya, Khamzat Kadyrov, who previously reported on Instagram about the destruction of all drones in the sky over Chechnya.
"He has become practically the only official confirming that Chechnya was attacked by drones. 'The information that drones hit some object is false; everything has been shot down!' he wrote in a comment to a video of the destruction of one of the drones," emphasized the Center for National Resistance.
It predicts that Putin, who "is tied to the loyalty of the Caucasus but must find those responsible for the downing of the plane," "will most likely choose the traditional option of appointing a scapegoat."
"From the letter, it becomes clear that it will be the air traffic controllers, not the Chechen administration. Therefore, Kadyrov's nephew may receive a dozen more orders named after Kadyrov and not worry about the consequences," the CNS believes.