ISW: Kadyrov's Death Will Be Major Blow To Kremlin Regime

Putin may lose control over Chechnya.

Prolonged concern about Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov’s health in the Russian information space highlights Russian President Vladimir Putin’s dependence on Kadyrov for continued stability in the region, analysts at the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe.

The GUR (Ukrainian Defence Intelligence) confirmed information about Kadyrov's poor health, while rumours spread among Russian insider sources that the Chechen leader was in a coma. Against this background, Kadyrov denied rumours about his health in a video published on September 17. However, rumours continued to spread.

“The destabilization of Kadyrov’s rule in Chechnya would be a major blow to Putin’s regime, in part because of how central the establishment of stability in Chechnya through a brutal and bloody war was to Putin’s early popularity in Russia. Kadyrov and other Russian officials may be concerned that continued rumours about his health will affect the long-term stability of his, and by extension Putin’s, control of Chechnya,” analysts say.