The mystery surrounding Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s deteriorating health took another unexpected turn this weekend: just days after he was reported to be in critical condition, two videos of the man described as an “attack dog” by Vladimir Putin is known.
On Friday, a spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence reportedly told Obozrevatel that Kadyrov was “in a serious condition” following reports that the 46-year-old strongman fell into a coma last week. “The information is confirmed by various sources in the medical and political circles,” the spokesman said. “He has been ill for a long time and we are talking about systemic health problems.”
But just two days later, two clips appeared to show Kadyrov alive and well on the Chechen leader’s Telegram channel. (The Daily Beast could not independently verify when the videos, which were shot at an undisclosed location, were filmed.)
In the first video, Kadyrov can be seen putting on a trench coat while taking a walk and smiling at the camera from an unknown location. In the second clip, the Chechen leader advises his viewers to stay active and do sports.
The second video post has a caption that says: “I strongly recommend that anyone who cannot distinguish the truth from lies on the Internet take a walk, get some fresh air and organize their thoughts.” The rain can be wonderful be invigorating.”
Friday’s remarks sparked a flood of speculation about whether Kadyrov had already died by the time the videos were released on Sunday. The Chechen leader has often denied reports of his health problems dating back to earlier this year.
Kadyrov – long known as a fervent Kremlin loyalist and a key ally of Vladimir Putin – played a significant role in the war against Ukraine, sending Chechen troops to the front lines of the invasion to fight alongside Russian troops. His alliance with Vladimir Putin is also seen by many experts as crucial to the Russian president’s influence over Chechnya, a republic within the Russian Federation.
“The ongoing concern about the health of the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, in the Russian information space underlines the dependence of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Kadyrov for further stability in Chechnya,” said an assessment by the Russian War Institute on Sunday. “Destabilizing Kadyrov’s rule in Chechnya would be a major blow to Putin’s regime… Kadyrov and other Russian officials may be concerned that persistent rumors about his health will harm the long-term stability of his, and therefore Putin’s, control over Chechnya.”
Moscow, for its part, seems to be keeping the secret a secret. Asked about the Kadyrov reports on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied flatly: “We have no information about it.”