Putin and Kadyrov: Addressing Rumors and Solidifying Alliances

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss various topics, including the role of Chechen fighters in Ukraine. This meeting comes amidst controversy surrounding Kadyrov's praise of his son for beating up an ethnic Russian prisoner in Chechen custody. The incident has drawn criticism, even from pro-Kremlin hardliners. Kadyrov's health has also been a topic of speculation, but he dismissed rumors of illness. Ensuring stability in Chechnya remains crucial for Moscow, which has fought to prevent the region from breaking away since the collapse of the Soviet Union.