Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik via Reuters
The mystery surrounding Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s deteriorating health took another unexpected turn this weekend, with two videos of the man known as Vladimir Putin’s “attack dog” released just days after he was reported to be in critical condition.
On Friday, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence arm allegedly told Obozrevatel that Kadyrov “is in a serious condition” following reports that the 46-year-old strongman had slipped into a coma last week. “The information is confirmed by various sources in the medical and political circles,” the spokesperson said. “He has been ill for a long time, and we are talking about systemic health problems.”
But just two days later, two clips appearing to show Kadyrov alive and well were uploaded to the Chechen leader’s Telegram channel. (The Daily Beast could not independently verify when the videos, which were taken in an unknown location, were filmed.)