Ramzan Kadyrov: Putin's Chechen ally who wears Prada to war

Ramzan Kadyrov has been the man in charge of Chechnya since 2006, initially as Prime Minister and later as "Head of the Republic." A flamboyant autocrat who is faithful to Putin's Russia and who has sent his elite troops to fight in Ukraine. He himself was portrayed with his fighters as if he were going to the front line, and a detail regarding his clothing choices went viral.

Social media (which Kadirov is very fond of) put the magnifying glass on the feet of the Chechen leader. Journalists like the Turkish Ragıp Soylu (to whom the tweet in the image belongs) underlined the luxury of his footwear: Prada boots worth nearly $1400.

Can Kadyrov be described as a 'fashion victim'? Beyond the anecdote, the truth is that he is a president (dictator, according to his critics) who would probably enjoy the social media influencer lifestyle. He is a politician who uses his Telegram channel to launch audio messages and slogans that attract the attention of thousands of people. And he does not hesitate to attack characters like Elon Musk himself (another addict to public controversies on social media).

The founder of Tesla challenged Putin in a rather childish tweet (and perhaps inappropriate, given the seriousness of the drama of the war in Ukraine). Musk said: "I challenge Vladimir Putin to single combat. The stakes are Ukraine."

And Kadyrov (pictured with Mike Tyson) replied to Musk on his Telegram channel, calling him "gentle and feminine Elona" and saying: "I would not advise you to compete with Putin."

The truth is that, beyond these frivolities (which are typical from Kadyrov), we are talking about an implacable president, accused of numerous human rights abuses. He was a guerrilla leader in Chechnya who, at the end of the long war that bled the country dry, went over to the Russian side and today governs without opposition at the service of Moscow.

Kadyrov's face is the face of power in Chechnya. And violence is his creed. He personally commands a militia of 3,000 men who are called 'kadýrovtsy'. It is the force that has been sent to Ukraine to fight.

Kadyrov is a person raised in the logic of war (he is the son of the former president of Chechnya - who died prematurely in a traffic accident or attack, depending on the source) and very far from the democratic canons of the West. He was born in 1976.

Kadyrov shamelessly worships Putin. In an audio quote published in Politico, he assured: "I am your infantryman. I am willing to give my life for you."

Obviously, Putin also supports Kadyrov as he is the figure that summarizes one of his successes in what was the territory of the Soviet Union: the pacification (at a very high cost in lives) of Chechnya, a region for years ravaged by violence.

Kadirov is a leader who has faced many assassination attempts. According to various media outlets, there have been at least ten attacks on his life from which he came out alive (although, sometimes, with serious injuries).

Chechnya, an Islamic region of the former USSR, has been the scene of two bloody wars. The first took place between 1994 and 1996, and it can be said that Russia lost. The second began in 1999 and reached Moscow itself (and other Russian cities) because it was a time of savage attacks by Islamist commandos. In 2009 this military operation officially ended, and Kadyrov established his mandate.

Although the situation in Chechnya is unstable (and no one knows if violence could break out again at any moment), Kadyrov has managed to establish himself as a peacemaker.

Chechnya is today a country that lives in relative peace. Attempts have been made to rebuild ruins, and infrastructures have been rebuilt, leaving behind the buildings marked by the fighting. The simple fact that Chechnya has ceased to be a battlefield is something that many Chechens thank Kadyrov for.

Kadyrov was very young when he started his leadership tasks. As sports and power are closely linked fields in the former Soviet Union, the head of the Chechen Republic is also president of the country's leading football team: FC Terek Grozny.

The fact is that Kadyrov and Putin have linked their destinies in the war in Ukraine. According to the Politico profile, Kadyrov seemed (with the end of the first month of conflagration) frustrated and depressed by the slow progress of the Russian troops. He recommends a heavy hand, more violence, and a merciless fight. It's his style. Stomp on them (even if it is with Prada boots).

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