Kadyrov stopped walking and lost influence in Kremlin: Putin is sacrificing him
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Recent reports indicate that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov's health is deteriorating significantly, leading to a marked reduction in his public presence and political influence within the Kremlin. He has ceased leaving Grozny, rarely appears before the public, and will not be participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections this fall. Independent Russian media outlets note that invitations to Moscow have stopped coming, highlighted by his exclusion from the recent United Russia Party Congress. Furthermore, the Kremlin's treatment of him has shifted noticeably; he is now addressed simply as "Ramzan" without his patronymic, and he can no longer communicate directly with key figures like Vaino and Kiriyenko, instead relying on intermediaries such as billionaire Suleiman Kerimov.
The signs of Kadyrov's declining status are also evident in how he is preparing for succession and managing his assets. For the first time, he has decided not to run in federal elections, allowing his closest associates to campaign in his stead while he actively promotes his eighteen-year-old son, Adam, as the future head of the republic. This move appears to be a clear signal that Kadyrov views his youngest son as his successor, a sentiment reinforced by security officials who have begun displaying portraits of Adam alongside those of Ramzan Sr. and Vladimir Putin in their offices. Additionally, Kadyrov has started distributing his inheritance, specifically transferring his Airbus A319, which frequently flies between Moscow and Saudi Arabia, to his sons Adam and Eli.
Despite the Kremlin's apparent disapproval of this succession plan, Kadyrov is taking steps to secure Chechnya's interests independently from Moscow's broader war objectives in Ukraine. Sources close to the Chechen leadership claim that Kadyrov refuses to sacrifice Chechens for the sake of the "Russian world," arguing that the Republic's goals do not align with those of the Kremlin. While public claims suggest over 70,000 Chechens have been sent to the front, confirmed casualties remain relatively low, with only about 540 deaths recorded as of July 10, representing roughly 0.2% of total Russian casualties. This discrepancy is attributed to the active recruitment of volunteers from other Russian regions by the Akhmat unit, where Chechens make up only about a quarter of the fighters, and reports suggest that servicemen are being advised to prioritize their own safety. Ultimately, Kadyrov has managed to avoid large-scale forced mobilization within the Republic while simultaneously using the ongoing war to bolster his image as the steadfast defender of his people.
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Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov's illness
appears to be progressing. He has
stopped leaving Grozny, rarely appears
in public, and will not participate in
the parliamentary elections this fall.
This was reported by the Russian
independent publication, We Can Explain.
Kadyrov has stopped leaving the Chechen
capital. The rare times he appears in
public only fuel rumors of his grave
condition. Chechnya's long-time leader
can barely stand and is forced to rely
on his confidants and security guards.
According to the publication, Kadyrov
has stopped being invited to Moscow.
Tellingly, he was not invited to the
ruling United Russia Party Congress in
the Russian capital. The Kremlin
dictator has started calling the Chechen
leader simply Ramzan without his
patronymic. [music]
He can no longer even call Vaino and
Kiriyenko directly. And he's found
himself dependent on a friend of the
presidential administration, his former
enemy, billionaire Suleiman Kerimov.
Writes We Can Explain. Apparently,
Kadyrov has lost his status as head of
the Caucasus. He has also begun
distributing his inheritance.
Specifically, he transferred his Airbus
A319 to his sons Adam and Eli. This
aircraft flies frequently to Moscow and
Saudi Arabia. For the first time,
Kadyrov is not running in the federal
elections. His closest associates are
running in his place. Kadyrov clearly
sees his youngest son, Adam, as his
successor. The head of Chechnya is
ignoring the Kremlin's disapproval of
this candidacy, promoting his
18-year-old son to the post of head of
the republic. Some influential Chechen
security officials have begun hanging
portraits of Adam in their offices next
to those of Kadyrov Sr. and Putin. It
was also reported that Kadyrov refused
to sacrifice Chechens for the Kremlin's
war. Kadyrov have stated that Chechnya's
interests do not align with the
Kremlin's goals in Ukraine. A source
close to the Chechen leadership told The
Economist that Kadyrov does not want to
sacrifice the Republic's population for
the sake of the so-called Russian world.
Despite public claims of over 70,000
Chechens being sent to the front,
confirmed casualties among Chechens
remain relatively small. As of July 10,
540 Chechens had been confirmed dead.
This represents only about 0.2% of all
Russian casualties. The Economist
attributes this to the fact that Akhmat
is actively recruiting volunteers from
other regions of Russia. According to
the unit's commander, Apti Alaudinov,
Chechens make up only about a quarter of
his fighters. The source also claims
that Chechen servicemen are allegedly
being advised to take care of
themselves. According to the
publication, Kadyrov has managed to
avoid large-scale forced mobilization in
the Republic while using the war to
bolster his image as the defender of his
people.