Chechen leader Kadyrov faces emergency hospitalization ahead of Putin-led meeting

According to a source cited by the outlet, Kadyrov flew to Moscow on December 24 to attend the State Council meeting. During the night of December 25, his health suddenly deteriorated. The head of Chechnya was transported by an ambulance to the Central Clinical Hospital of the Administrative Department of the Russian President.

An interlocutor close to the Chechen leader told journalists that in Moscow, Kadyrov was "barely revived, after which he returned home and has not appeared in public since."

As a result, the State Council meeting took place without the participation of the head of Chechnya.

Novaya Gazeta Evropa writes that Kadyrov’s health, based on indirect signs, has been worsening since the beginning of last year, when he was hospitalized at the private Aymedi clinic in Grozny.

Kadyrov himself effectively acknowledged this during a recent live Q&A, noting that he had taken official leave four times over the past year. Such a practice is unusual for the head of the republic, as he previously maintained an irregular work schedule and personally supervised key processes in the region.

In previous years, Kadyrov said, he worked almost without breaks and only took a two-week vacation during the New Year holidays, whereas this year, one of the New Year vacations lasted nearly two months.

During the live Q&A, Kadyrov also commented on noticeable signs of his declining health.

"I experience nervous disorders. A constant feeling of tension, as if you’re sitting on live wires," he said.

The Chechen leader linked these symptoms to his "worries" about Chechen soldiers participating in the aggressive war against Ukraine.

Kadyrov wants to pass on the 'throne'

As early as May, Novaya Gazeta Evropa reported that, amid his deteriorating health, Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, is preparing a successor.

According to the outlet, the position of head of Chechnya could go to Kadyrov’s son, Adam.