Ramzan Kadyrov

man at podium

The controversial Chechen leader who supports Putin in Ukraine

Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin promoted Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to army general this month. Kadyrov is a long-time ally of Putin and is known for his inflammatory remarks and abysmal human rights record. He has also described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “holy war.”

An activist with Reporter Without Borders, wearing a mask depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin, stands next to a giant portrait of imprisoned Russian journalist Alexei Kungurov on the Place de la Republique

Between Sochi and the World Cup, Putin built up a resistance to Western criticism over human rights

Global Politics
Supporters of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov continue to leave flowers on the bridge where he was shot down more than two weeks ago, within view of the Kremlin.

Growing doubts that Chechens are behind the Nemtsov assassination

Global Politics
A man looks at a computer screen showing logos of Russian social network VKontakte in an office in Moscow.

The ISIS Internet army has found a safe haven on Russian social networks — for now

Global Politics