Analysis: Why is Putin Reaching Out to Supporters of Chechen Separatists?

The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center points out that Hamas has been a supporter for many years of Chechen separatists targeting Russians with terrorism. Hamas identifies ideologically with Chechen terrorism, regarding them as part of the global jihad. They have allowed Chechen terrorists to use the Hamas web site to provide religous sanction to its suicide bombing attacks. In propaganda, they have called the Red Army's counterterrorism operations "terrorist activities against the Islamic population in Chechya." With all of this ideological opposition, we must ask, why is Vladimir Putin reaching out to them then?