Ramzan Kadyrov

Ramzan Kadyrov is a Chechen politician, the son of Akhmat Kadyrov, the first president of the Chechen Republic. He has been the head of Chechnya since 2011. He has held the rank of major general of the police since 2009, and major general of the Russian National Guard since 2020. In 2021, he won the second direct election for the head of Chechnya with 99.7% of the vote.

During the first and second Chechen military campaigns

Ramzan Kadyrov was born in the Chechen village of Tsentaroi on October 5, 1976.

In 1994-1996, during the first Chechen military campaign, Ramzan Kadyrov fought on the side of the separatists. Since 1996, Ramzan Kadyrov was an assistant and a personal bodyguard of his father Mufti Akhmat Kadyrov.

In the autumn of 1999, at the beginning of the second Chechen war, Akhmat and Ramzan Kadyrov went over to the side of the federal troops.

Until 2000, Ramzan Kadyrov was well-known mainly for his sports career: he took part in boxing competitions. He has got the title of Master of Sports.

During the presidency of Akhmat Kadyrov

In 2003, after Akhmat Kadyrov was elected the President of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov became the chief of the presidential security service. He held the position of the Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs of Chechnya, was a member of the State Council of the Chechen Republic from the Gudermes District. According to media reports, Ramzan Kadyrov was responsible for conducting special operations and negotiations with militants to persuade them to join the side of the federal forces.

After the Akhmat Kadyrov's death

On May 10, 2004, the day after the death of his father in a terror act, Ramzan Kadyrov was appointed the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic.

On December 29, 2004, Ramzan Kadyrov was awarded the title of the Hero of Russia.

Since November 11, 2005, he acted as the char of the government for Chechnya.

On March 4, 2006, Chechen President Alu Alkhanov signed a decree to appoint Ramzan Kadyrov the Prime Minister of the republic.

On February 15, 2007, President Vladimir Putin appointed Ramzan Kadyrov the acting President of the Chechen Republic.

As the leader of Chechnya

On March 1, 2007, President Putin proposed Ramzan Kadyrov as a candidate for the presidency of Chechnya.

On March 2, 2007, the Chechen parliament approved the Ramzan Kadyrov's appointment the president of the republic.

Being appointed the leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov continued the line of his father to place his people, mostly from among former separatists (like Kadyrov father and son themselves) to leading positions.

On March 5, 2011, Chechen MPs voted for to re-approve Ramzan Kadyrov as the leader of Chechnya for other five years.

On August 26, 2012, Ramzan Kadyrov declared that the Chechen authorities intended to raise the issue of the border with Ingushetia: "Everyone knows that the Sunzha District and large areas of the Malgobek District are parts of Chechnya."

On February 25, 2013, Ramzan Kadyrov invited Gerard Depardieu to Grozny and handed him over the keys to a five-room apartment.

In connection with the events in Ukraine, Ramzan Kadyrov is included in the sanctions lists of the United States, the European Union, Switzerland, and Canada.

On July 19, 2014, on Instagram, Ramzan Kadyrov presented a photo evidence of the death of Doku Umarov, the leader of the "Imarat Kavkaz".

In May 2015, experts of the Petersburg Politics Foundation and the holding mentioned the Ramzan Kadyrov's strengths as federal support and control over the situation in the region, while among his weak points they mentioned his immersion in intra-elite conflicts, negative resonance situations, and tension with the leaders of the neighbouring republics.

On March 25, 2016, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to appoint Ramzan Kadyrov the acting leader of the Chechen Republic.

On September 18, 2016, at the election of the republic' leader, Ramzan Kadyrov was supported by more than 97% of voters.

On October 31, 2016, Ramzan Kadyrov declared that Chechnya would not be able to develop if its funding was reduced.

On April 11, 2017, the Financial Times reported a conflict between Ramzan Kadyrov and Igor Sechin, the CEO of the "Rosneft" Company, provoked by the situation around Chechen enterprises. The escalation of the conflict led to the appearance of a version about a "Chechen trace" in a terror act committed in Saint Petersburg.

On July 27, 2017, in his Telegram, Ramzan Kadyrov stated that he was ready to resign and protect during all his life the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in connection with the conflict situation around the Mosque on the Temple Mount.

Assassination attempts

Several assassinations were organized against Ramzan Kadyrov.

On May 12, 2000, on the road "Kavkaz", an explosive device was activated next to his jeep. Ramzan Kadyrov got a light contusion.

On September 30, 2002, unidentified persons shelled a Ramzan Kadyrov's car in the village of Novogroznensky in the Gudermes District. One of his subordinates was wounded.

On July 27, 2003, in the village of Tsotsan-Yurt in the Kurchaloi District, body guards prevented a female suicide bomber from blowing up Ramzan Kadyrov. The suicide bomber and a local woman were killed in an attempt.

At night on May 1, 2004, a unit of separatists attacked the Ramzan Kadyrov's native village of Tsentaroi. According to Ramzan Kadyrov's subordinates, attackers wanted to kidnap or kill Ramzan Kadyrov. The militants attack was suppressed.

On July 28, 2008, media reported that in the village of Khosi-Yurt (Tsentaroi) in Chechnya, an unsuccessful attempt was made on Ramzan Kadyrov. He himself denied the information about the assassination and said that the information was being disseminated by "Wahhabis or provokers."

On October 23, 2009, an attempt to assassinate Ramzan Kadyrov and his adviser Adam Delimkhanov was allegedly prevented in Grozny.

On October 3, 2016, the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" published a material on a new assassination attempt on Ramzan Kadyrov committed in the spring of 2016. An attempt was made by a group of young Chechen residents in the village of Benoi, where the Ramzan Kadyrov's residence was located.

n January 30, 2017, Novaya Gazeta published another article about the investigation into the assassination attempt on Kadyrov in Benoy. According to a report by Lieutenant Colonel Timur Mezhidov, head of the Center for Combating Extremism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Chechnya, quoted by Novaya Gazeta, "the organizer of the assassination attempt on the head of the Chechen Republic is citizen Isa Bekmirzaevich Yamadayev . "

On March 10, 2017, Daniil Martynov, deputy head of the Russian National Guard for Chechnya and assistant to the head of the republic for security matters,  confirmed information  about an assassination attempt on Kadyrov, suggesting that people who "left abroad 10-20 years ago and are now living in the West" may have been involved in the assassination attempt on the head of Chechnya in the spring of 2016.

On April 1, 2017, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Chechnya officially issued a federal search warrant for Isa Yamadayev on suspicion of attempting to assassinate Kadyrov, and a court conditionally ordered him to remain under a travel ban. According to Rosbalt, Yamadayev, who remains an active military service member and is under state protection, has already appealed the search warrant, citing the possible motives of the Chechen security forces and their intention to eliminate him upon arrest.

Allegations of crimes and human rights violations

Human rights organizations associate the activities of Ramzan Kadyrov with mass and gross violations of human rights.

In 2006, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights prepared a report on secret prisons in Chechnya, where confessions were "beat out" of suspects "through brutal beatings and torture."

Besides, in 2006, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report on torture in Chechnya.

Umar Israilov, a former body guard of Ramzan Kadyrov, said that he "tortured him with electric current."

On December 20, 2017, the United States added Ramzan Kadyrov to the Magnitsky List and called him responsible for extrajudicial executions, torture, and other human rights violations in Chechnya.

Russian and international human rights organizations link Ramzan Kadyrov's activities to massive and gross human rights violations.

In September 2020, Salman Tepsurkayev was kidnapped in Gelendzhik. The video of him caused widespread controversy not only in Chechnya but also beyond. More details about Tepsurkayev's experience are available in the Caucasian Knot report, "Torture for ADAT: Why Kadyrov's Critic Was Humiliated."

On February 4, 2021, Chechen security forces transported Salekh Magamadov and his brother, Ismail Isayev, a minor at the time, from Nizhny Novgorod to Chechnya. They were tortured and accused of aiding a militant, and a year later, they were sentenced to eight and six years in prison, respectively.

On January 20, 2022, Zarema Musayeva, the wife of retired federal judge Saidi Yangulbaev, was forcibly taken from her apartment in Nizhny Novgorod to Grozny by Chechen security forces. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov then declared that the Yangulbaevs would be sentenced to "prison or underground." On January 22, Kadyrov accused the Yangulbaev family of organizing a terrorist network and supporting terrorism and demanded that the entire family be detained and punished or killed as terrorist accomplices. Following these threats, Saidi Yangulbaev and his daughter fled the country. Abubakar Yangulbaev left Russia in late 2021, and Musayeva's other son, Ibragim Yangulbaev, was placed on the federal wanted list for a criminal case of justifying terrorism, and Rosfinmonitoring  added  him to the register of extremists and terrorists.

In December 2021, Kadyrov's critics reported mass abductions of their relatives in Chechnya and Astrakhan. Based on open sources, the "Caucasian Knot" counted at least 60 names of Yangulbayevs, Abdurakhmanovs, Malizayevs, Sadulayevs, Khalitovs, and Artsuyevs.

Call for the murder of those who make negative comments about Chechnya

At a meeting of the Chechen government on November 4, Ramzan Kadyrov demanded that the authors of negative materials about the republic and the social media users commenting on them be identified. According to Kadyrov, "anyone who attacks our honor and dignity will face the most severe punishment." Kadyrov's speech also included death threats, but the Chechen leader and his associates subsequently denied making public death threats against critics of the Chechen authorities.

The "Caucasian Knot" compared several translations of Kadyrov's words. They contain minor differences that don't affect the meaning, but the word "kill" appears in all versions.

A "Caucasian Knot" correspondent translated Kadyrov's words into Russian as follows: "Those who spread discord and gossip—if they are not killed, jailed, and stopped—nothing will come of it." According to a translator contacted by "Caucasian Knot" to verify the accuracy of the translation, Kadyrov stated: "And if we don't kill, jail, and intimidate those who spread all this, they won't stop."

The BBC Russian Service quoted Kadyrov as saying: "Those who violate harmony between people, who engage in gossip and discord, if we don't stop them by killing, imprisoning, and intimidating, nothing will work." After the BBC's translation was published, Alvi Karimov, a spokesman for the Chechen leader, stated that the broadcaster's poor knowledge of Chechen meant he had misinterpreted Kadyrov's words. The BBC, in turn, stated that it was confident in its translation asked a native Chechen speaker to verify the BBC translation and translate the rest of Kadyrov's speech. "Those who violate harmony between people, spread gossip, create discord… If we don't stop them by killing, imprisoning, and intimidating them, nothing will work," the publication quotes its translation of the controversial phrase. The translator emphasized that there is no context in Kadyrov's speech that would soften his statements or allow for a different interpretation . 

Hobbies

Ramzan Kadyrov is fond of dog fights, cars, and driving a car.

He heads the Chechen Boxing Federation, the "Terek" Football Club (FC), the "Ramzan" sports club and the Chechen KVN league.

Family ties

On October 5, 1976, Ramzan Kadyrov was born in the village of Tsentaroi in the Kurchaloi District of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic). He graduated from the secondary school there. Most of the leaders in Chechnya are relatives of Ramzan Kadyrov. In particular, Dukuvakha Abdurakhmanov, Speaker of the Chechen parliament in 2008-2015, was his relative. Odes Baisultanov, the chair of the government for the Chechen Republic in 2007–2012, is a Ramzan Kadyrov's cousin. State Duma member Adam Demilkhanov is also in close relationship with Ramzan Kadyrov.

Ramzan Kadyrov is married and has eight own children. In 2007, he adopted two boys from an orphanage, whom their relatives refused.

In 2006, at the request of Ramzan, his mother Aimani Kadyrova adopted a 16-year-old pupil of a Grozny orphanage, since Ramzan was not allowed to adopt him because of age difference.

Awards and titles

In 2004, Ramzan Kadyrov was awarded the title of the Hero of Russia.

In August 2005, he was awarded the medal "To Defender of the Chechen Republic".

In June 2006, Ramzan Kadyrov was granted a PhD in Economics.

In 2006, Ramzan Kadyrov was awarded the title of honorary member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.

Ramzan Kadyrov also holds the title of an honorary academician of the Academy of Sciences for the Chechen Republic, an honorary professor at a number of higher education institutions in the Russian Federation, and an honorary citizen of the Chechen Republic. He is awarded the highest award of Chechnya the Order of Akhmat-Khadji Kadyrov and many public awards.

On March 9, 2015, Ramzan Kadyrov was awarded the Order of Honour "For Labor Achievements Achieved, Active Social Action and Long-Term Honest Work."

On July 22, 2020, Vladimir Putin  awarded Ramzan Kadyrov  the military rank of Major General of the Russian National Guard.

"For Services to the Fatherland"

On December 13, 2024, Vladimir Putin presented Ramzan Kadyrov with the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland," 2nd class, Akhmed Dudayev, the region's Minister for National Policy, External Relations, Press, and Information, announced on his Telegram channel.

On February 8, 2024, Vladimir Putin awarded Ramzan Kadyrov the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd class .

As follows from the document, Kadyrov was awarded  for "a significant contribution to strengthening Russian statehood, the country's defense capability, and the socio-economic development of the Chechen Republic"

In 2006, the head of Chechnya received the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland," 4th class, and in 2021, the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland," 3rd class. .

On March 9, 2015, Ramzan Kadyrov was awarded the Order of Honor “For achieved labor successes, active public work and many years of conscientious work”. .

In 2022, Kadyrov received the Order of Alexander Nevsky .

He has also been awarded the Order of Courage, the medals "For Military Valor" 2nd Class, "For Distinction in Maintaining Public Order," "For Distinction in Conducting the All-Russian Population Census," "For the Liberation of Crimea," and "For the Development of Parliamentarism in the Chechen Republic." He also received the Kazakhstani award "10 Years of Astana" and numerous public awards. Ramzan Kadyrov holds the titles of Honorary Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Chechen Republic, Honorary Professor of several Russian universities, Honorary Citizen of the Chechen Republic, Honored Worker of Physical Culture, Honorary President of the Afghanistan Veterans Movement of the Southern Federal District, Honored Builder of the Chechen Republic, and Honored Worker of the Civil Service of the Chechen Republic, according to the official website.

Investigations about Ramzan Kadyrov 

"Independent Sultanate"

A renowned publication specializing in investigative journalism1On June 17, 2024, an investigation about Ramzan Kadyrov and his family was published on YouTube. The authors claim that an "independent sultanate" has effectively been created in Chechnya—with its own army, Sharia law, the death penalty, and enormous financial flows from the state budget directly to the Kadyrov family. 

In the documentary, investigators tell the story of Akhmat Kadyrov's rise to power. The filmmakers pose several questions about the circumstances of his death in 2004, the murders of Kadyrov's opponents, and his children. 

Investigators noted the absence of Ramzan Kadyrov, then head of the Chechen presidential security service, from the stadium in Grozny on May 9, 2004, when the terrorist attack that killed Akhmat Kadyrov took place. Investigators also raised questions about the death of his father, Zelimkhan Kadyrov, Ramzan Kadyrov's older brother, three weeks after his death.

The investigation details a scheme for siphoning funds from the state budget to Chechnya. Kadyrov placed his relatives in ministerial positions in the Chechen government, and his fellow villagers and friends in company management positions, the journalists also noted. 

The authors describe three companies used to funnel money as "Kadyrov's personal wallets." Investigators claim that, according to reports, these companies conduct no business and have no employees or contractors, yet they are among the top Chechen companies by revenue and hold assets worth 150 billion rubles.

One chapter of the investigation is devoted to Ramzan Kadyrov's personal life, and in particular to allegations that the Chechen leader's children were born to different mothers.

Journalists also link the Chechen authorities to high-profile political assassinations, specifically the murders of Yakov Sergunin, Paul Klebnikov, Anna Politkovskaya, Natalya Estemirova, and Boris Nemtsov. 

In the film, the authors name and depict suspected perpetrators of Boris Nemtsov's murder, who were not included in the official investigation. Investigators claim that those involved in Nemtsov's murder are connected to a close associate of Kadyrov.

Conflict with the Kremlin

A publication specializing in investigative journalism2 оn March 27, 2025, an article was published, citing government sources and information from colleagues, about the deterioration of relations between Kadyrov and the Kremlin. 

The publication writes that the reason for Kadyrov's rift with Putin was information from the FSB regarding the Chechen leader's negotiations with representatives of Middle Eastern Muslim monarchies. According to the journalists, negotiations regarding the future of Kadyrov's assets and the safety of his family members have recently intensified and were not coordinated with the Kremlin. 

The publication reports, citing the Chechen leader's long vacations since early 2025, that Kadyrov's health is deteriorating. However, journalists claim he understands the value of federal security guarantees, the structure of power in his region, and what awaits his family members after his departure. 

In March 2025, Kadyrov removed his daughter Aishat from her position as deputy prime minister, and she became the owner of Chechnya's largest exporter, Chechen Mineral Waters. Her details, along with those of Kadyrov's other daughter, Tabarik, and his wife, Medni Kadyrova, were hidden from the legal entity register.

The publication also notes, citing its sources and the VChK-OGPU Telegram channel, that the rift with the Kremlin has also affected Kadyrov's closest ally, State Duma deputy Adam Delimkhanov.

Versions about the resignation and successor

On May 5, 2025, in one of the publications recognized in Russia as an "undesirable organization"3 publication has appeared on the future of power in Chechnya and potential scenarios for its transition. The article details the active career advancement of Adam Kadyrov , the 17-year-old son of the Chechen leader, and personnel changes in the republic's power structures related to his other children. The publication also mentions a rumor about Ramzan Kadyrov's health problems.

That same day, the pro-government republican news agency "Chechnya Segodnya" (Chechnya Today) released another statement from Kadyrov declaring his readiness to resign. Asked by an agency representative about "rumors of resignation," Kadyrov replied that he had "heard these rumors." "On the contrary, I am asking to be relieved of my post. Someone else will have their own initiatives, their own vision. I hope that my request will be supported," the head of Chechnya stated .  ¹The following day, May 6, 2025, he published a post in which he noted that "many did not understand the meaning of his words about resignation" and clarified that "only one person makes such a decision anyway – Putin . "  ²

Earlier, in February 2025, after a long absence from public view, the head of Chechnya stated that "European and American newspapers" were spreading rumors about his illness, while he was merely on official vacation. In a video published on his Telegram channel ³, Kadyrov stated at a meeting with the region's security agency leadership: "I appeal to those who want me to leave: I was appointed for life. I was elected by the people; I am not one of those who can be fired by anyone .  ⁴Chess, exercise bike and billiards

On August 1, 2025, Ramzan Kadyrov posted a video of himself exercising on a stationary bike on VKontakte, stating that he was "gradually" returning to exercise "after a break." In the video, Kadyrov pedals a stationary bike at a moderate pace while speaking in Chechen to an off-camera trainer. The trainer mentions the words "break" and "muscle recovery." Кadyrov's followers commented that he has noticeably lost weight.

On his Telegram channel, Kadyrov posted a video of himself playing billiards with Adam Kadyrov, and earlier, a video of himself playing chess with his eldest son, Akhmat.

The posts appeared following rumors of Kadyrov's hospitalization and a pause in his public appearances. On July 25, the Turkish publication Haberler reported that Kadyrov began to choke while swimming in the sea, prompting an ambulance to be called, after which he was hospitalized . Bodrum-based Kent TV reported that the Chechen leader was discharged from the hospital the next day. Chechen authorities have not officially commented on these reports. Journalists noted that Kadyrov has not appeared in public for five days following rumors of his hospitalization, and as of today, has not participated in public events for a total of 11 days. They also noted that Aishat Kadyrova was vacationing in Turkey.

Portrait of Kadyrov

In July 2025, the management of the Sevastopol Marine Aquarium Museum placed a portrait of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov on the Wall of Heroes, which displays portraits of World War II veterans. This was reported on social media, after which an unknown man removed the portrait. Museum management  returned it . However, a day later, the portrait  disappeared again .

On August 2, 2025, a portrait of the head of Chechnya also  appeared at  the Heroes of Russia exhibition, alongside portraits of the head of the Akhmat special forces, Apti Alaudinov, and soldiers from the North Caucasus killed in the military operation. The exhibition was organized at the initiative of the Sevastopol Public Chamber. Commentators questioned the appropriateness of the portrait of the head of Chechnya, especially in the context of soldiers from other North Caucasus republics killed in the North Caucasus Military District.

Announcement of a new term

On December 14, 2025, during a live Q&A session on the Grozny State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company website, Ramzan Kadyrov stated that he was prepared to run for re-election in 2026 if President Vladimir Putin offered to do so and if the people supported his decision. "But if you ask me, I'm fed up with this government and serving the people. I think new forces and new people would be more helpful in improving the situation," he stated .

On April 29, 2026, Vladimir Putin met with Ramzan Kadyrov in Moscow and supported his candidacy for a new term. Kadyrov again called himself Putin's "foot soldier," reporting on the participation of Chechen residents in the SVO, the republic's overfulfillment of its own revenue plan for 2025, and the flood relief efforts. Putin thanked the Chechen fighters and Kadyrov personally "for their contribution to the SVO," calling them "true warriors," and cited Chechnya as an example to other regions "in terms of birth rate.

Refuting rumors about deteriorating health

In January 2026, Ramzan Kadyrov publicly commented several times on rumors of another health deterioration. On January 3, in a video with the Minister of National Policy, Ramzan Kadyrov declared his  "fighting spirit" and blamed "Satanists" for spreading the news of his emergency hospitalization ( the Russian Supreme Court declared the "International Satanism Movement" extremist and banned its activities) .

On January 12, Kadyrov posted a video of a meeting with government officials on his Telegram channel, in which he refuted yet another round of rumors about his health. "We must step up our efforts to combat the fake information spreading online. They say my kidneys are failing, that I'm in the hospital, and that doctors from a private clinic in Moscow have been brought in," the Chechnya Segodnya news agency translated.

On January 14, Kadyrov went live on social media from the mountain village of Benoy. "I swear by the Almighty, I have no pain in my kidneys, liver, spleen, or stomach," he declared, noting that he had "sufficient strength.

Mediator in Middle East meetings

Amid rumors of deteriorating health, Kadyrov participated in talks in the Kremlin on January 29, 2026, between Vladimir Putin and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In the Kremlin, the Chechen leader spoke about negotiations with the Ukrainian side regarding the end of the special military operation. He expressed a desire to see it through "to the end." A short video clip of the Chechen leader speaking with media representatives inside the Kremlin was attached to the message.

According to analysts interviewed by the Caucasian Knot, Kadyrov acts as an informal intermediary in relations with Islamic states, but has little leeway in building personal relationships with Middle Eastern leaders. For example, in April 2025, he, along with other Russian officials, attended talks in the Kremlin between Vladimir Putin and Emir of Qatar Tamim al-Thani. According to Kadyrov, the situation in Syria and the Gaza Strip, as well as energy cooperation, were discussed at the meeting. However, he did not disclose his role in this event.

⁵In late March 2026, the Iranian state-run PressTV reported that Chechen military units had declared their readiness to deploy to Iran. A week later, Ramzan Kadyrov commented on these reports: "This could have happened if Iran were fighting only against the US and Israel. But they are also attacking our brothers." Kadyrov emphasized: "I support Iran, but I do not support strikes on civilian targets in Arab countries." He recalled his "brotherly relations" with the leaders of the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia .

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