Ramzan Kadyrov: biography
Ramzan Kadyrov is a well-known Russian statesman and politician, the Head of the Chechen Republic, the Hero of the Russian Federation, a controversial and outstanding person. People have mixed feelings about him, some consider him a dictator, and others think of him as a peacemaker and a renovator of the destroyed country.
Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov was born on October 5, 1976, in the village of Tsentaroy, located in the Chechen-Ingush SSR. He was the second son and the youngest child in the family of the famous politician Akhmad Kadyrov. From an early childhood, the mother fostered to little Ramzan such ideas as family traditions, faith in the family, respect for the elders, courage, and bravery. She is the head of the Regional Charity Fund founded by Kadyrov’s father.
Father Akhmad Kadyrov was the most important authority for the boy. His praise was for Ramzan a great reward. He tried to win it with his diligence and courageous deeds. In his youth, Kadyrov studied at an ordinary rural school, like all Soviet children, and at the same time, he studied the military science of hillmen. Thus, from an early age, he can ride well and use firearms and cold arms perfectly.
In 1992, Ramzan Kadyrov graduated from high school, but it took some time to enter college because at that time he had to take up arms and with his father to defend the independence of Chechnya. Since then, the biography of Ramzan Kadyrov has had a military direction.
Kadyrov entered Makhachkala Institute of Business and Law at the Faculty of Law only in 1998 after the end of the First Chechen War. He successfully graduated in 2004. After graduation Ramzan was enrolled as a student in the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. In 2006 Ramzan Kadyrov’s education and his ability to overcome negative events in Chechnya, connected with the actions of illegal armed groups, allowed him to become the honorary member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.
In the same year, he presented a thesis at the Institute of Business and Law in Makhachkala and became the Doctor of Philosophy in Economics. In addition, in 2006 Kadyrov received a number of honorary titles, in particular, he became an honorary member of the Academy of Science of the Chechen Republic and an Honorary Professor of Modern Humanitarian Academy.
Besides distinguished achievements in economic sciences, Ramzan Kadyrov is the master of sports in Boxing, and he is the Chairman of the Boxing Federation of Chechen Republic and the Head of the Ramzan Football Club, whose branches are located in all regions of the Republic.
Public service
In 1999 Akhmad Kadyrov and his son left the Chechen separatist movement and join the Federal forces. Since then Ramzan Kadyrov has been actively engaged in public activities. In 2000 he became a member of a special company of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russian Federation. It ensures the safety of the buildings of state authorities and the top leadership of the Chechen Republic. In 2002, he was appointed the commander of a platoon-company, and in 2003 he headed the presidential security service
During this period, the influence of Kadyrov in Chechnya has increased significantly, thanks to his active and successful negotiations with fighters of illegal militant groups in Chechnya, who in most cases have renounced their convictions and joined the security service of the top leadership of the Chechen Republic.
In 2004 Kadyrov’s father died, and the son of the former Head of the Chechen Republic was appointed Vice-Premier of the Republic. Akhmad Kadyrov was killed on the orders of terrorist Shamil Basayev. Ramzan announced his feud to Basayev.
According to the Russian law, 28-year-old Kadyrov could not become his father’s successor and head Chechnya, as the candidate for this position must be at least 30 years. In 2005, the young politician took a position of the acting Chairman of the Government of the Chechen Republic, and in 2007 became its leader.
The Head of Chechnya
From the very beginning Kadyrov’s presidency gave positive results in stabilizing the tense situation in the Republic, as a result, they reduced the number of terrorists attacks and citizens saw the long-awaited peace. Besides the settlement of the military situation the Head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov was actively engaged in rebuilding the country’s infrastructure and the construction of a number of architectural objects. The main source of large-scale construction was the payments from the Russian budget and the sources of the Public Foundation named after Hero of Russia Ahmad Kadyrov.
The first period of Ramzan Akhmatovich’s rule is also characterized by the Islamization of the Republic. The Chechen Head currently shows his deep religiosity. He opened in Grozny Russian Islamic University and the mosque called the Heart of Chechnya in support of the Sufi Islam which is the traditional religion in the country.
In 2011 the Chechen Parliament re-elected Ramzan Kadyrov for another presidential term and he continues to lead the country successfully. As for Kadyrov, the key role in his political career is the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he regularly expresses his personal devotion to. The Head of Chechnya considers Putin the “Savior of the Chechen people”.
In 2011 public unrest on the subject of facial hair took place in the Republic, because at first, Kadyrov promised to oversee suspicious young people. But after a wave of questions, he said that a Chechen had been and would be with a beard for religious reasons, and he didn’t want to fight with it.
In 2015, according to the survey of the Levada Center research organization, about 55% of Russians trust Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov. The majority of the Russian population believes that it was politician’s activities that led to the stability and peaceful life in the North Caucasus.
Kadyrov often arranges personnel shifts. He has recently fired Minister of Сulture and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs has resigned himself. There are no exact reasons, and many believe that it is the personal conflict with the Head of Chechnya.
In spite of this fact human rights activists constantly accuse the Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov of brutal murders, kidnapping, and tortures. Some critics believe that the crimes are committed by so-called Kadyrovtsy militants by his order, who have official status in the country. Kadyrov’s security is often considered to be involved in crimes and offenses. Other defenders of human rights think that Kadyrov has repeatedly taken part in the brutal murders and torture of citizens. Whereas, Ramzan Kadyrov, refutes the charges, calling them unfounded and baseless.
Kadyrov has a long-running conflict with Vladimir Zhirinovsky. It seems as if both odious leaders have found each other. Kadyrov calls Zhirinovsky “a clown” and demand to remove him from the party, the letter, on the contrary, proposes "to rail Chechnya from the rest of Russia with barbed wire”.
Conflict with Emelianenko
Kadyrov is accused of cruelty not only to subordinates but also to his own children. In 2016, the scandal broke around the Grand Prix Akhmat tournament, which was later called the children’s fights.
Sports demonstrations took part during the tournament, where three Ramzan Kadyrov’s sons participated. But instead of demonstrations, there were real fights. It violated numerous rules of the competition, according to which children under 12 years are forbidden to participate in the MMA tournaments. In addition, the boys didn’t have the outfit, which is required for competition until 21 years.
Ramzan Kadyrov’s sons
The President of the Russian MMA Union Fedor Emelianenko noticed these violations. He was shocked by the fact that the elite of the Republic looked at children’s fighting and did nothing. Moreover, the tournament was broadcast on Match TV channel all over the country. According to Emelianenko, it was simply unacceptable and such fights contradict the principles of care for children.
Kadyrov replied the athlete on Instagram, he said that public criticism is unworthy of Russian heroes. He saw nothing wrong that his sons beat other children, he called it Patriotic education. But Kadyrov was angry that Emelianenko put photos of politician’s children on Instagram to illustrate his opinion. Ramsan urged him not to interfere with the upbringing of the future defenders of the country.
The situation provoked a conflict and a wave of unpleasant remarks about the athlete from the Chechen elite on Instagram, Twitter, and other social networks. The scandal became known in the Kremlin too. Although the official check did not find violations, many believe that Putin personally came to the defense of Emelianenko, as shortly the scandal was put to an end, the offensive comments were deleted, Kadyrov apologized to the athlete.
Personal life
Ramzan Kadyrov is a devoted Muslim and he has even gone on pilgrimage to Mecca.
He also supports a lot of Chechen traditions, and during holidays he sometimes appears in different historical costumes as a hero or even in armors. Moreover, Ramzan often rides that once caused a lot of discussions on the Internet. Someone spread false information that Kadyrov fell from his horse and broke his neck. Ramzan denied the rumors and he was outraged about it.
Personal life of Ramzan Kadyrov is as successful as his career. In his youth, Ramzan met a girl from his village, in 2004 they married. The wife of Ramzan Kadyrov, Medni Musaevna Kadyrova (maiden name Aidamirova) is the first lady of Chechnya and she is a philanthropist.
A few years ago, the first lady of Chechnya, Medni Kadyrova became actively engaged in fashion, and founded her own brand “Firdaws”, which became the first national brand of the Chechen clothes. She opened a fashion house with the same name. Many designers of the Chechen Republic sell their collections of luxurious dresses and casual wear under this trademark.
Ramzan Kadyrov’s wife has nothing against the possibility that Ramzan Kadyrov can marry several times, as under Sharia law Caucasians can have four wives, but only with the permission of the main wife. The Head of Chechnya has repeatedly stated that his second wife can only be a woman more beautiful than Medni, but he has not met anyone for so many years.
However, there are rumors that Kadyrov has a second wife. Her name is Fatima and she is only 18 years old. There was no official ceremony, and it is not possible to legislate the wedding according to the Russian law.
In addition, according to mass media, the Head of the Chechen Republic have love affairs with different beautiful women. Ksenia Sobchak’s statement about his unofficial personal life caused a real scandal. She said that Ramzan Kadyrov and Tina Kandelaki often rest together and have more than a friendly relationship. Kadyrov stated that such accusation of infidelity is unfounded and evidence-free.
Kadyrov’s children
There are 10 children in the family, six daughters, and four sons. Two sons are adopted, in fact, they were adopted in 2007 by Kadyrov’s mother Aymani Nasievna, because Ramzan was not allowed to adopt teenagers because of the age difference. In point of fact, he brings up two adopted brothers.
Such a large number of children in the family is not surprising for the southern area. The last child was born in 2015, and apparently, neither Kadyrov nor his wife plan to stop. Many people think that Ramzan holds tradition which means that it should be as many children as they can birth.
A big family lives in a huge house that makes you wonder about the financial conditions of the Kadyrov’s clan.
Friendship with Timati
Kadyrov respects not only his family but those whom he considers his friends. One of them is Timati. Ramzan even calls him brother.
There are many conflicts connected with Ramzan Kadyrov, but they are not always political. The Head of the Chechen Republic had once interfered in music scandal. In 2014, singer Timati groundlessly accused Dima Bilan of drug abuse. The scandal with Timati, Dima Bilan, and Yana Rudkovskaya burst out.
Kadyrov stated that he fully supported Timati and thought that the singer had grounds for accusation, as Timati led a healthier lifestyle. The fact that Timati agreed to be tested for drugs, finally persuaded Ramzan.
In full play of the scandal, he awarded the singer the title of Honored Artist of Chechnya as a sign of support.
Galustyan’s Parodies
Ramzan Kadyrov has warm relations with Mikhail Galustyan, who parodied the leader of Chechnya at the celebration of the anniversary of “KVN” comedy club. Viewers and fans of the club worried that Mikhail’s bold parody can cause a scandal or even a conflict. But it turned out, that Kadyrov liked the video. Moreover, Ramzan supported the idea of performance and even rehearsed with Galustyan for two days.
In the interview, Kadyrov said that he also wanted to visit the concert, but he could not. So the performance of the parodist is the great way to be in two places at the same time.
Kadyrov is very popular in the comic industry. The video with his laughter has even become very popular at some time.
