Since the beginning of the Russia–Ukraine war, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and his relatives have received an astonishing number of awards. This was reported in an analysis by the outlet "Verstka."
According to the information, in the last 41 months, Kadyrov personally received 31 orders and medals. This means he has been awarded almost once every 40 days. This process has involved not only him but also his family members.
In second place in the ranking is his son Adam Kadyrov. He has received 16 awards, half of which were handed out in just two months – in October and November 2023. This period is linked to Adam beating a detainee, Nikita Zhuravel, in a detention center in Grozny. That he was awarded after this incident has surprised many.
In third place is Kadyrov's daughter, Aishat Kadyrova. Since 2022, she has received 10 state awards. These awards are seen as a symbol of familial and political prestige.
Interestingly, out of the 146 awards, 82 are local, that is, internal Chechen awards. The rest were given by federal ministries and agencies, especially law enforcement bodies like the National Guard, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Federal Penitentiary Service. This shows how closely the Kadyrov family is connected to Russian state institutions.
In addition, they were awarded by administrations of annexed Ukrainian territories and officials from some foreign states – Libya and partially recognized South Ossetia.
The constant awarding of orders and medals to Adam Kadyrov has become a subject of jokes and memes on the internet. Media reports about the awards have triggered not only critical commentary but also humorous responses.
According to “Verstka,” in many cases, these awards are given upon direct requests by Chechen officials. For example, in October 2023, Kadyrov’s administration requested that the governments of Kabardino-Balkaria and Adygea award an order to Adam. Initially, the request was denied, but a month later, Adam nevertheless received the highest award of Kabardino-Balkaria.
It is clear that the number of awards here is not just statistics – behind them lies significant political coordination, influence, and image-building. At the same time, this situation raises various questions for the public. Perhaps the biggest one — are these awards truly given for genuine merit?
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