Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic, appeared in an unusual state during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday evening in the Kremlin, exhibiting signs of trembling, a swollen face, and an atypical speaking manner, according to Western media reports. Kadyrov, 46, stated during his meeting with Putin that Chechen fighters are successfully performing their duties in Ukraine and emphasized that his forces will remain engaged in the military operation until ultimate victory is achieved, as reported by Russian media.
The Chechen leader pointed out that the local population in the areas where his forces operate supports the military operation, considering it necessary to achieve the desired goals. However, aside from the context of the meeting or its content, British press focused on Kadyrov's external appearance and body language, with The Sun newspaper noting that he does not appear to be in good health, based on observations from one of its experts.
Footage shows Kadyrov trembling while speaking face-to-face with Putin, appearing swollen, which likely confirms the rumors circulating about the recent deterioration of his health. The newspaper noted that "Kadyrov's body is noticeably swollen, unable to control his hand movements which began to shake while he spoke to Putin, reading from previously prepared, large-sized handwritten notes."
Additionally, a translation shared by BBC journalist Francis Skerrit quoted Kadyrov as frequently using the Chechen word "don," a phrase often used when a speaker finds themselves at a loss for words, indicating he appears to struggle with speech during the encounter with Putin.
Echoing The Sun and the BBC journalist, Anton Gerashchenko, advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs, tweeted: "Note two things: How tightly Putin grips the table (and the expressions on his face) and the font size in Kadyrov's notes."
Kadyrov, a staunch supporter of the war against Ukraine, sparked considerable controversy last month by being absent from Putin's "state of the nation" address. The Sun, after reviewing Kadyrov's luxury jet travel records, confirmed that the jet made several recent trips to the UAE. It indicated that the purpose of these trips was to summon a prominent doctor from the Gulf state, as he reportedly "does not trust" Moscow doctors.
The Sun also referenced allegations that Kadyrov had been "poisoned," a fate similar to that faced by his close ally, General Apti Alaudinov, who he described as a victim of an assassination attempt last month.
The leader of the Chechen "Ahmad" special forces, Apti Alaudinov, announced in an interview with "Russia 24" about his return to the area of the special military operation and his recovery after being poisoned last month. For reference, he was poisoned by a letter intended for Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya.
In a post on his official Telegram account, Ramzan Kadyrov announced an assassination attempt on his aide and commander of the "Ahmad" special forces, Apti Alaudinov, assuring his followers that Alaudinov's health was now stable and that his life was not in danger. Kadyrov stated that Alaudinov received an envelope containing a letter on February 8, which turned out to be soaked in a toxic substance. Upon suspecting the envelope because of a burning and penetrating smell, he took immediate action: he cleaned his hands and washed his nasal cavity, as did his aides who handled the envelope. They all sought assistance from the medical unit.
