Ramzan Kadyrov's clan is losing influence in Chechnya, reports Ukrainian TV channel FREEDOM.
While the leader of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, is suffering from kidney failure, according to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, his son was also hospitalized after a car accident. There are processes in Chechnya that are also worrying for the Kremlin.
Reports about Ramzan Kadyrov's serious health problems are nothing new. Officially, of course, no problems were recognized. However, over time, even a person without a medical education could notice obvious changes in Ramzan Kadyrov's appearance.
Ramzan Kadyrov's health has apparently deteriorated significantly in recent years. Ukrainian intelligence previously reported that the head of Chechnya was suffering from kidney failure. And a little over a week ago, according to intelligence, the Chechen leader's kidneys had completely failed. Representatives of the family clan, including those from abroad, are urgently traveling to Grozny. Against this background, the search for candidates for the post of the new head of state of the republic has sharply intensified.
For the Kremlin, the possible death of Ramzan Kadyrov is an extremely alarming scenario. This is not just a change of regional leadership, but the end of an informal deal. According to this agreement, after the Second Chechen War, the Chechen Republic remains part of the Russian Federation, and Kadyrov promises to guarantee the absolute loyalty of the Chechens to Putin.
The loss of this figure threatens the entire political structure. A region with clan ties and irreconcilable internal contradictions may not accept a new leader controlled by Moscow.
Chechnya is urgently looking for a replacement for Kadyrov. Among the candidates being considered are Apti Alaudinov, commander of the “Akhmat” formation; Magomed Daudov, head of the Chechen government; and Kadyrov’s eldest son, Akhmat. It is extremely important for Putin that the new head of Chechnya be as controllable and loyal as his predecessor.
The Russian power structure is based not on institutions, but on fear and personal loyalty.
If Apti Alaudinov is crowned head of Chechnya, the unthinkable will happen to the Kadyrov family. The clan, which practically controls the entire republic, risks losing power. And such a scenario is unlikely to be acceptable to them. Over the years of his rule, Ramzan Kadyrov has built a system of personal control, placing more than 80 of his relatives in key positions. This was done with the clear intention of preserving the family’s influence in the event of a withdrawal or death.
The official narrative is fragmentary and contradictory, and the real processes are hidden behind a fake media attack. But one thing is already clear: the situation around Chechnya and the Kadyrov family is escalating. The issue here is no longer the health of specific individuals, but the strength of the power structure, built on mandatory loyalty, fear and silence.
Russian opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov says that the situation in Chechnya today is different from the 2000s. There may be some competition between clans, but ultimately the Kremlin, and Putin in particular, decides everything. If Putin stopped supporting Kadyrov tomorrow, the security forces could quickly remove and replace him.
Russian journalist Renat Davletgildeev says that the power in Chechnya will change soon. He points out that everyone understands that Ramzan Kadyrov will not be around for long. Even among the Chechen elite, they understand that the leadership of the republic will soon change. The departure of such a figure would certainly have a serious impact on Russian politics. And that is precisely why everything is kept so secret.