Chechen president killed, future ministry in question

Chechnya (MNN) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is hoping his whirlwind visit to Chechnya will help quell violence after the assassination of Chechnya’s President Akhmad Kadyrov. He was killed in a bombing in Grozny Sunday. The assassination ends what was being called a relative calm in the civil war embattled region.

Russian Ministries’ Sergey Rakhuba says they have work in the region. Rakhuba says they’ve been providing assistance to children affected by the civil war. Orphans and disabled children are in desperate need. Rakhuba says the terrorists attack makes their work more difficult. “It raises lots of hostility again against Russians. So, it will make our ministry more difficult to the families who are in desperate need there in Chechnya,” he says.

Akhmad Kadyrov’s election a few months ago brought peace to the region. Rakhuba says, “Not just relative peace, it was lots of hope that the situation will be stabilized. And, that’s why our missionaries had a lot more freedom to the hospitals, to children’s homes there, to the schools. Lots of families were coming to our distribution places there, seeking humanitarian help and for spiritual help.” Rakhuba says, “It was a great opportunity to present them with the Gospel that the people are very open to. We hope the door will remain open and we’ll be able to tell people that there is a greater love.” The assassination puts all that feeling of security on hold.

Rukhuba isn’t sure what the future of ministry will be in Chechnya. He says that will only be determined by the next president. There’s no word on when an election will be held to replace Kadyrov. Rakhuba is asking people to pray.