Vladimir Putin is in Chechnya today for his first visit to this Russian republic in 13 years. It was Putin, then Prime Minister, who managed to convince Akhmad Kadyrov to betray his former comrades-in-arms and side with Russia, leading to the complete destruction of Grozny and Russia's victory in the Second Chechen War. As a reward for his betrayal, Akhmad Kadyrov was granted absolute power in Chechnya, but he was assassinated a few years later, and his son, Ramzan Kadyrov, took control of the region shortly thereafter.