The authoritarian leader of the Russian republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, announced on Wednesday that he had been promoted to the rank of colonel-general by President Vladimir Putin, at a time when Moscow’s forces are experiencing setbacks in Ukraine.
“The Russian President awarded me the rank of Colonel-General. The decree has been published (…) Vladimir Vladimirovich personally informed me about it and congratulated me, “wrote Mr. Kadyrov on Telegram, saying he was” immensely grateful “for” the high appreciation of (his) merits ” .
The rank of colonel-general is the third highest command rank in the Russian military hierarchy, behind those of army general and field marshal. The Chechen leader was already a general three times before this promotion: of the military forces of the interior, of the police and of the national guard of Chechnya.
Mr. Kadyrov, criticized by international NGOs for serious human rights violations in his republic, has been very active since the beginning of the Russian offensive in Ukraine. Chechen units, including Mr. Kadyrov’s own militia with a sinister reputation, the “kadyrovtsy”, fight there alongside the Russian regular forces.