Russian and Ukrainian media recently reported that Ramzan Kadyrov, who has ruled the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya for nearly two decades, may be suffering from kidney failure and has been exploring potential successors. Kadyrov has consistently dismissed reports that his health is on the decline, typically responding with staged public appearances. For the Kremlin, the loss of Kadyrov could risk destabilizing a region that fought two bloody wars for independence from Moscow in the 1990s and 2000s. Here’s what we know about the health of Kadyrov, known as Russia’s most brutal and staunchly Kremlin-loyal regional leader who has been accused of crimes against critics and political opponents.
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