–

MOSCOW (Sputnik)Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Ramzan Kadyrov, acting head of the Chechen Republic, is convinced that Chechnya must remain with Russia.

"Where did he begin? He fought us in the forest. You haven't forgotten about that? With a weapon in his hands, alongside his father. No one recruited him, no one forced him. He himself came to the conclusion that Chechnya should be with the Russian people and with Russia. And this is favorable and it is in the interests of the Chechen people. It is a difficult transformation, an internal one, it really did come from within. And I know that Ramzan Kadyrov carries out his work with these beliefs," Putin said during his annual Q&A session.

He also expressed hope that the Chechen authorities, as well as the officials in other regions, would be aware of their responsibility toward the whole of Russia.

"[I hope] they will come to understand that the formulation of attitude toward those expressing opposing opinions with extreme methods does not mean contributing to stability in the country. On the contrary, this means to cause harm to this stability. If this awareness comes, I am sure that this will happen, since they earnestly work for the sake of national interests, then there will be no such statements. However, probably, it is my omission as well," Putin stressed.

The Chechen Republic is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus. Kadyrov came to power as the leader of Chechnya in 2007,

On March 25, Putin said Kadyrov would assume the title of "acting leader" until elections are held in September.