On Tuesday Ramzan Kadyrov replaced the Prime Minister of Chechnya and made several other personnel changes in the government. As a result, the number relatives of the head of Chechnya in the cabinet of ministers of the republic increased from eight to nine. A relative also took the position of head of government.
Details. Isa Tumkhadzhiev became acting prime minister. Kadyrov reported. Tumkhadzhiev is 42 years old. About him knownthat he is married to a relative of Kadyrov and is the son-in-law of the head of the republic. Kadyrov said that Tukhmadzhiev has been around “almost since childhood,” starting from “the times of the fight against international terrorists.”
Isa Tumkhadzhiev has been working for the government since last fall. In November, Kadyrov appointed him minister of highways and first deputy prime minister of the republic, replacing his father Abubakar Tumkhadzhiev. Thus, the son received the post of minister virtually by inheritance.
This is not the first time that a relative of Kadyrov heads the government of Chechnya. From 2012 to 2018, the prime minister was the cousin of the head of the republic, Odes Baysultanov, who now holds the post of Deputy Minister of Sports of Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism).
On Tuesday, the head of Chechnya also appointed a new minister of physical culture and sports, his eldest son Akhmat (he is 18 years old), who has headed the Ministry of Youth Affairs since February.
To the vacant post of Minister of Youth Affairs, Kadyrov appointed the husband of his fourth daughter Tabarik Kadyrova, Ramzan Vismuradov (20 years old), who had previously worked as First Deputy Minister of Physical Culture and Sports.
After these reshuffles, Kadyrov’s relatives occupy three out of seven deputy prime minister posts. These positions are held by Aishat Kadyrova, the eldest daughter of the head of Chechnya, her husband Viskham Matsuev (also heads the Ministry of Agriculture), father-in-law of Kadyrov’s fourth daughter Tabarik Abuzaida Vismuradova.
In addition to Akhmat Kadyrov and Ramzan Vismuradov, ministerial posts are occupied by:
— Adam Alkhanov, husband of Khutmat Kadyrova, the third daughter of the head of Chechnya, Minister of Health,
– Ramzan Cherkhigov, husband of Zargan Kadyrova – sister of the head of the republic, Minister of Transport and Communications,
— Khozh-Baudi Daaev, Kadyrov’s relative through his aunt (father’s sister), Minister of Education and Science.
Context. The increase in the number of relatives in the government comes amid a wave of rumors about the deterioration of Ramzan Kadyrov’s health. In the end of April Novaya Gazeta Europe reportedthat in 2019 Kadyrov was diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis, and “his state of health… leaves no hope for his cure.”
The replacement of the prime minister of the republic became the second serious reshuffle in the power of Chechnya in a week. On May 15, he left the post of speaker of the parliament of the republic Magomed Daudov.
