Rumors have once again flared up about the health of Ramzan Kadyrov, the notorious leader of the Russian republic of Chechnya, after media reports said he was terminally ill due to pancreatic problems. Kadyrov, who is accused of human rights abuses, is loyal to the Kremlin and known for his brutal treatment of opponents.
The Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe, who immigrated to Estonia, reported that the health of the 47-year-old Kadyrov did not offer any hope of recovery. The newspaper said that Moscow is already searching for a successor to the Chechen dictator.
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Kadyrov's power apparatus, which denied similar speculation a few months ago, has not yet commented. But a video clip was posted on Kadyrov's Telegram channel showing him during a meeting in the Chechen capital, Grozny. He sits almost motionless at the table and speaks only slowly and apparently with difficulty.
Kill the personal doctor
Rumors had previously spread about his unstable health condition. He is said to have been poisoned and suffering from kidney problems. In photos taken late last year, Kadyrov appeared swollen and gained a lot of weight. He also had difficulty keeping his eyes open.
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Kadyrov previously denied these accusations outright. According to the media, his personal physician (and Deputy Prime Minister) Alkhan Suleimanov was killed. According to the German newspaper Bild, Kadyrov blamed him for the deterioration of his health. The Chechen ruler may believe that Suleimanov poisoned him with incorrect injections.
