Ramzan Kadyrov failed to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to resign as head of the Chechen Republic.
He was going to discuss this issue at a meeting with the head of state on May 7. “I will ask the president today. As he says, so it will be. <...> But why not? We have done everything, built everything. And if anything happens, if anyone has any problems, we’ll come back!” – Kadyrov told Kommersant before his conversation with Putin. During the meeting itself, Kadyrov reported on the growth of Chechnya’s economy, a surge in industrial production and construction, and a drop in unemployment. At the same time, the head of the republic read his report from beginning to end from sheets of paper, and his hands, as observers noticed, were shaking.
After his meeting with Putin, Kadyrov wrote that he managed to discuss “a number of important topics off the record” and received “full understanding and support.” “In conclusion, Vladimir Vladimirovich, commenting on the latest speculation on the Internet, again quoted Mark Twain’s famous words, “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” He added that we still have work to do. I am carrying out the orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief!” – Kadyrov concluded. Before that, “Novaya Gazeta. Europe” reported about a sharp deterioration in the health of the head of Chechnya. According to the newspaper’s sources, Kadyrov has stopped leaving the republic and spends almost all his time in the Aymed clinic in Grozny under the constant supervision of doctors, including staying there overnight. The publication claimed that six years ago Kadyrov was diagnosed with necrosis of the pancreas with no hope of a cure.
According to Novaya’s interlocutors, after a medical examination in February 2025, Kadyrov activated the scenario of transferring power to family members. In this connection, a procedure was launched to re-register republican assets. Previously, they had been registered to front men so that Kadyrov’s children could hold positions in the regional government. Now all the businesses have been “returned” to their real owners. However, for this to happen, Kadyrov’s daughters Aishat, Khutmat and Khadijad had to leave the civil service.
According to Novaya’s sources, the Chechen leader has chosen his third son Adam, who will turn 18 in November, as his successor. That’s why Kadyrov began promoting him as the main heir from 2023 with the help of awards and appointments. Thus, Adam became head of a department in the Chechen head’s security service, supervisor of the Russian Putin Special Forces University and supervisor of the Interior Ministry in the republic. At the end of August 2024 he was awarded the highest award of the republic, the Akhmat Kadyrov Order. Adam was also awarded the title of Hero of Chechnya and the Order “For Service to the Religion of Islam” of the first degree.
Ramzan Kadyrov has been the head of Chechnya since 2007 and, according to calculations by Kavkazsky Uzel, has spoken publicly about his possible resignation at least eight times. In particular, he has claimed that he is ready to vacate the post in 2017, 2020 and 2022.