Kadyrov’s sixteen-year-old son heads his father’s bodyguard. He had previously received criticism

Dudayev said he “sincerely congratulates Adam Kadyrov on his appointment to an important position in the security service of the head of the Chechen Republic.”

Adam Kadyrov, who will celebrate his 16th birthday this month, came into the spotlight in September when his father posted a video on Telegram of the young man beating and kicking a prisoner convicted of burning a Koran. Ramzan Kadyrov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said at the time that he was proud of Adam and appreciated that he had acquired “adult ideals of honor, dignity and defense of his religion”.

However, the Reuters agency writes that the young man’s behavior also provoked criticism, which came from, for example, pro-Kremlin hardliners.

Adam Kadyrov was awarded the Hero of the Chechen Republic a month ago, and later he was also awarded the second highest order of Tatarstan “for his significant contribution to the strengthening of inter-ethnic and inter-religious peace and harmony”. According to Radio Svoboda, it was rumored that the Chechen leadership turned to many Caucasian republics to support Adam Kadyrov, but the leadership of the two republics refused to award him the award.

Political scientists assume that by honoring and promoting Ramzan Kadyrov to state positions, he is presenting Adama as his possible successor to the post of Chechen leader.

Forty-seven-year-old Kadyrov has ruled Chechnya with a heavy hand since he became president in 2007. Putin has given him generous funding to rebuild the predominantly Muslim region, which was ravaged by two wars after the collapse of the Soviet Union as it tried to break free from Moscow’s control.