[Private]

With his rule legitimized by elections, it is now time for Zakayev to attempt to tackle the primary problem at hand: the economic situation. Sanctions on Russia obliterated the local economy, with Grozneftegaz, the local Chechen subsidiary of Rosneftegaz, having its operations nearly shutter thanks to restrictions on oil and gas exports — with the other primary industries of construction and transportation also suffering severely from a lack of parts and supplies. The primary concern of Zakayev is now to secure funding in some way from anyone he can — to use both in alleviating the economic plight, and in better equipping his military forces against expected future military incursions.

For this purpose, Zakayev — using his clout as a leader-in-exile in London for nearly three decades — will first reach out to the West. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Poland, Georgia, and Ukraine will be contacted with the following topics of discussion:

• Recognition of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria as a sovereign nation;
• Economic aid, through both grants and loans, to alleviate the abysmal economy;
• Lifting of Russian sanctions on the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, so as to facilitate the export of Chechnya’s oil and natural gas reserves;
  • To Georgia specifically: arrangements to export oil and natural gas through Georgia
• Military aid, through funding as well as equipment (preferably simple, Russian-adjacent small-arms, anti-tank weaponry, and light artillery/anti-air artillery)

Additionally, Zakayev will also reach out to Russia’s most recent enemy in China, as well as the smattering of Central Asian states. The following topics will be discussed:

• Recognition of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria as a sovereign nation;
• Economic aid, through both grants and loans, to alleviate the abysmal economy;
• Possible cooperation, pending Dagestan’s approval, of oil exports to the east from Chechnya, through/to Central Asia, to China;
• Military aid, through funding as well as equipment (preferably simple, Russian-adjacent small-arms, anti-tank weaponry, and light artillery/anti-air artillery)

Finally, Zakayev also will reach out to his neighboring “states” in the Northern Caucasus region. Unfortunately, most of these “states” have no actual government — instead being a conglomeration of tribal and clan leaders, united nominally under “councils.” Thus, Zakayev will reach out to the Councils of Dagestan, Ingushetia, Karachay-Cherkessia, and Kabardino-Balkaria with the following topics of discussion:

• Mutual recognition of each other’s sovereignty;
• Creation of the Northern Caucasus Alliance, with terms surrounding mutual defense and avoidance of military action between the states;
• Economic cooperation with regards to movement of goods, so as to facilitate economic relief;
  • To Dagestan specifically: allowance of the export of Chechen oil and natural gas through Dagestan’s lands to the Caspian Sea, then onwards to Central Asia and China