Rumors about the health of Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s Chechen Republic, have rekindled in Russia after a media report said he was suffering from an incurable pancreatic disease, DPA reported.
Today, the independent publication “Novaya Gazeta Evropa” reported on the health condition of Kadyrov, a close ally of the Kremlin and known for his brutal treatment of dissidents.
The authorities in Chechnya, which a few months ago denied rumors about Kadyrov’s state of health, have not yet commented on the information published today.
The usually well-informed independent newspaper wrote that “47-year-old Ramzan Kadyrov’s health leaves no hope of recovery. And now Moscow must decide operationally how to maintain stability when the harsh Chechen dictator is no longer in power.”
The newspaper, which was founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov, cited sources close to Kadyrov as well as doctors at the Russian presidential administration hospital. The Chechen leader was said to have been treated there last autumn. It was then that rumors of his serious illness first emerged, fueled by his long absence from public life and visible problems during his rare public appearances.
At the time, the speculation was officially dismissed. His long stay in a Moscow hospital was disguised as a visit to his sick uncle, Novaya Gazeta reported today. However, the journalists are already convinced that it was Kadyrov who was the sick patient.
Meanwhile, a video was posted on Kadyrov’s Telegram channel today showing him participating in a meeting of the regional government in the capital of the Chechen Republic, Grozny. However, the recording is unlikely to dispel speculations about his health, DPA notes.
The video also shows how the leader of Chechnya, who has been accused more than once of committing some of the most serious violations of human rights, sits almost motionless at the table and speaks slowly and obviously with difficulty, BTA reported.
Tags: Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov suffering severe pancreatic disease
