The kidneys have failed, the strength is trembling. The Kremlin is looking for a successor to Ramzan Kadyrov
The health of the leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadîrov, has entered a critical zone, and Moscow is already looking for a backup plan. According to information obtained by “Ukrinform” from sources of the Ukrainian intelligence services, Kadîrov suffers from severe kidney failure and is hospitalized in a private clinic in Chechnya.
Ramzan Kadîrov, the leader of Chechnya PHOTO: Profimedia
The signal is a serious one: the entire family clan has already gathered around the Chechen leader, including relatives from abroad — a detail that, in the logic of authoritarian regimes, betrays more than any official statement.
Succession, triggered
Kadyrov's illness accelerated a process the Kremlin had been avoiding for years: identifying a successor acceptable to Moscow. According to sources, three names considered “suitable” for Vladimir Putin are being considered:
-Magomed Daudov, the prime minister of Chechnya and one of the oldest trusted men of the clan;
-Apti Alaudinov, commander of the “Ahmat” special unit, key figure in the force apparatus;
-Ahmat Kadîrov, the eldest son of the Chechen leader, only 20 years old, aggressively promoted in the power structures.
The last option — dynastic succession — seems to be Kadîrov's favorite. But it is not clear if it is the one the Kremlin wants.
The Moscow episode: an ignored warning
The warning signs became evident as early as December. On December 24, Kadyrov arrived in Moscow to attend a meeting of the State Council, together with Vladimir Putin. During the night, however, his condition suddenly deteriorated.
He was urgently transported in an ambulance to the Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Presidential Administration. According to the sources cited by the press, the doctors “took him out of critical condition with difficulty”.
Worse for the Kremlin: insiders acknowledged at the time that Moscow did not have a clear plan in the event of Kadyrov's disappearance.
Dynasty, forced before time
Amid these rumours, the Chechen leader made a hasty move: he named his son, Akhmat Kadîrov, acting deputy head of the Chechen government, while retaining his position as minister of sports.
It is a symbolic promotion, but also a clear message: Kadîrov is preparing the ground for a controlled transition within the family.
The problem, however, is a legal and political one. Russian law stipulates a minimum age of 35 for the leadership of the republic. None of Kadîrov's sons meet this condition.
Chechnya, the prisoner of a single man
For almost 20 years, Chechnya was not governed by institutions, but by a single person. The system is built entirely around Ramzan Kadîrov, explains Emil Aslan, professor of security studies at Charles University in Prague.
“The power is concentrated in his hands, his family and his close circle. Everything works as long as the leader has the direct support of Vladimir Putin,” the expert emphasizes.
This dependence explains why any physical weakness in Kadyrov automatically becomes a strategic problem for the Kremlin.
Major risks for Moscow
The scenarios considered are all risky:
-either the Kremlin accepts a puppet leader, while the Kadîrov clan rules from the shadows;
-either Moscow forces a break and removes the family from power.
Both variants can trigger instability. “There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of families that have been repressed and are waiting for the right time for revenge,” warns Aslan.
For Vladimir Putin, Chechnya has long been the perfect example of government through loyal intermediaries. Today, however, the same model shows its limits.
“Chechnya is not like any other region of Russia. A poorly managed succession can destabilize not only the republic, but the entire control system built by the Kremlin,” the analyst concludes.
