Ramzan Kadyrov, the powerful leader of Chechnya who has been accused of running a “totalitarian regime,” released new video footage on Sunday to address speculation about his health. In the videos, Kadyrov can be seen smiling and recommending everyone to engage in sports.
There has been ongoing speculation about Kadyrov’s well-being for months. In the first video, he is shown walking in an unidentified location wearing a raincoat. Although he appeared puffy-faced, he maintained a smile throughout the footage. The second video features Kadyrov speaking in Chechen and then advising people to “practice sport” in Russian.
The accompanying words to the videos stated, “I strongly recommend that everyone who cannot distinguish the truth from lies on the internet go for a walk, get some fresh air, and put their thoughts in order. The rain can be wonderfully invigorating.”
The exact date of the recordings is unclear, but they were published in response to unverified reports on social media claiming that Kadyrov was in a coma.
Kadyrov has been a strong supporter of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and has had his battalions fight alongside Russian forces. As a former rebel warlord who now allies with the Kremlin, he has often referred to himself as Vladimir Putin’s “footsoldier.”
Since becoming president of Chechnya in 2007, Kadyrov has ruled with widespread evidence of extrajudicial killings and torture against his opponents, particularly in the majority-Muslim region.
