Ramzan Kadyrov, head of Russia’s Chechnya, waits before an annual state of the nation address attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File photo Acquire Licensing Rights
Nov 29 (Reuters) – Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s teenage son, who was shown beating a prisoner in custody this year, has been named as an observer in a new battalion that is part of Russia’s defence ministry forces, a senior Chechen official said late on Tuesday.
Adam Kadyrov, who turned 16 last week and who recently was appointed as his father’s top bodyguard, was shown in a social media video posted by Ramzan Kadyrov in September punching and kicking a prisoner accused of burning the Koran.
The video drew broad condemnation, including from some pro-Kremlin hardliners. Ramzan Kadyrov, a staunch ally of President Vladimir Putin, said at the time he was proud of his son and respected Adam for acquiring “adult ideals of honour, dignity and defence of his religion”.
On Tuesday, Adam Delimkhanov, who heads the Chechen division of the Russian national guard and is also a member of Russia’s parliament, said the young Kadyrov was named a…
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