Analysts Assess Putin's Meeting with Adam Kadyrov

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Vladimir Putin's reception of Adam Kadyrov on the eve of the wedding, like the receptions of other sons of the head of Chechnya under similar circumstances, is a gesture confirming support for the family. Ramzan Kadyrov is thus trying to transfer power by inheritance.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, Ramzan Kadyrov's third son, 17-year-old Adam Kadyrov married a fellow villager named Medni, the wedding is being celebrated in the Kadyrovs' ancestral village, his older sister Ayshat reported. Before the wedding, Adam was received by Vladimir Putin in an informal setting.

The reception of Adam Kadyrov by Russian President Vladimir Putin before the wedding and its possible significance were commented on by the chairperson of the Civic Assistance Committee* Svetlana Gannushkina*, political scientist** Andrei Kolesnikov* and blogger Islam Belokiev on June 30 for a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Putin's reception of Adam Kadyrov is another gesture confirming his support for the Kadyrov family, Svetlana Gannushkina* said.

"Support not only for Ramzan himself, but also for the future of his family. This is very important for them and the culture of the family in which they grew up. Of course, this is a symbol of the effectiveness of the agreement with Akhmad-haji," she said.

According to the human rights activist, the bride is of no importance in this regard. "But it is she who I am thinking about. Will she have enough influence and is there any intention for her family to ensure her well-being? Putin will not stand up for her," she noted.

Putin's reception of Kadyrov's son is a manifestation of support for Ramzan Kadyrov in a situation where everyone thinks that he is facing political death, believes Andrey Kolesnikov*.

"Putin has no other mechanism for maintaining stability in Chechnya other than "Kadyrovshchina," and he is not going to give it up. Besides, he is not really up to it right now," he believes.

According to the political scientist, the rest of the regional elites will have to come to terms with this. "There are other mechanisms and other conflicts," Kolesnikov explained.

Islam Belokiev said that Kadyrov has health problems, it is important for him to preserve the dynasty and pass on power by inheritance. "However, his sons are still too young to head a Russian region. This means that <...> Putin will be forced to appoint someone else. The new head, even if he is formally "interim", may remain in office for many years. And where is the guarantee that during this time he will not secure the support of the security and elite structures, strengthen his personal power and eliminate Kadyrov's sons?" he believes.

According to the blogger, this is precisely why it is so important for Kadyrov to publicly emphasize that Putin is betting on his family, and not on anyone else. "These demonstrative meetings with his sons are not just personal gestures, but political signals to all Chechen elites: the continuity of power must remain in the Kadyrov family," Belokiev said.

Nevertheless, he specified, Magomed Daudov will most likely become the interim head of the region after Kadyrov. "And all these meetings with children are nothing more than an attempt to calm <...> the patient. After all, what if he suddenly realizes that his family can go "under the knife"? It is difficult to predict what steps he can take," the blogger added.

Adam Kadyrov was born on November 24, 2007. After the beating of the arrested Nikita Zhuravel in a Chechen pretrial detention center in September 2023, he began to receive numerous honorary titles and awards, including the title of Hero of Chechnya. In August 2024, he demonstrated his shooting skills to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Chechnya and was awarded the Kadyrov Order.

In March 2025, Adam Kadyrov became the curator of the Chechen Interior Ministry for the region, and in April he was already mentioned in the official Telegram channel of the Chechen Security Council as the Secretary of the Security Council of the Chechen Republic. There were no official reports about his appointment, or the resignation of his predecessor, Khamzat Kadyrov.

* added to the register of foreign agents by the Russian Ministry of Justice.

** speaker's status clarified - "Caucasian Knot" update from 09.25 Moscow time 01.07.25

** Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.