Ramzan Kadyrov, the brutal leader of Russia’s Chechnya region and one of Vladimir Putin’s most loyal enforcers, was rescued from near-drowning whilst holidaying at a luxury Turkish resort, according to multiple Turkish media reports.
The 48-year-old warlord lost consciousness after entering the water at a five-star hotel in Bodrum’s Kaynar district on Thursday, sparking a dramatic rescue operation involving hotel staff and coastguard officers.
Dramatic Beach Rescue
Turkish media outlets reported that Kadyrov was staying at the Plaza Hotel when the incident occurred on the afternoon of July 24th. According to newspaper reports, Kadyrov “suddenly began to lose consciousness” and slipped beneath the surface shortly after entering the water for a swim.
Turkish Coast Guard officers and hotel staff noticed he was in distress and intervened. Emergency responders provided first aid on the beach before transferring the Chechen leader to a private clinic, where his condition was later described as stable.
Media outlets say he is now in stable condition and not in danger. Sources reported that after undergoing medical evaluation and observation, Kadyrov was found to be in no “life-threatening condition” and was discharged after a brief period.
Official Silence
Despite the dramatic nature of the incident, there has been no official statement released by Chechen authorities yet. The Kremlin has also remained silent on the matter, maintaining its typical approach to health-related incidents involving senior Russian officials.
However, questions have emerged about the timing and authenticity of the drowning reports. As local time in Bodrum matches Moscow time, the frequency and timing of Kadyrov’s posts cast serious doubt on the timing and authenticity of the drowning reports, according to Russian media outlet Baza.
Deteriorating Health Crisis
The drowning incident comes amid mounting speculation about Kadyrov’s rapidly deteriorating health condition. Kadyrov senior reportedly has necrotising pancreatitis, a health condition with a low survival rate, and kidney problems that require frequent dialysis.
According to Novaya Gazeta Europe, doctors initially diagnosed Kadyrov with acute pancreatic necrosis — a serious condition that can lead to death — in January 2019. The condition has a notoriously poor prognosis, with sources claiming he requires daily treatment at a private clinic in Grozny.
The sources Al Jazeera interviewed claimed he was hospitalised several times in critical condition, and spends hours in the AiMed Family Clinic in Chechnya’s administrative capital, Grozny, every day and often stays overnight.
Succession Battle with Putin
The health crisis has intensified a bitter succession dispute between Kadyrov and Putin over the Chechen leader’s preferred heir. Two Chechen insiders familiar with the inner workings of Kadyrov’s government told Al Jazeera that, despite the deferential tones, Kadyrov has had a falling-out with Putin over his preferred successor – his third son, Adam Kadyrov, who turned 17 last November.
“Putin refused to have Adam as a successor,” one of the sources said. This rejection has created significant tension within the Kremlin’s power structure, as Kadyrov desperately seeks to establish a family dynasty in Chechnya.
Russian law presents a significant obstacle to Kadyrov’s dynastic ambitions. The Chechen constitution stipulates that only a person who has reached the age of 30 can be the head of the republic, meaning Adam would need to wait until 2037 to legally assume power.
Failed Resignation Attempt
In May 2025, Kadyrov attempted to resign from his position, ostensibly to pave the way for his son’s eventual succession. “On the contrary, I myself ask to be relieved of my post. The other will have his own initiatives, his own vision. I hope that my request will be supported,” Kadyrov said.
However, the resignation attempt failed spectacularly. Kadyrov later walked back his resignation comments in a post on his Telegram channel. “Many did not understand the meaning of my words about resignation. I do not decide whether I will remain in the position of the Head of the Chechen Republic or not,” Kadyrov wrote.
The Russian president’s rejection of both the resignation and succession plan has left Kadyrov in an increasingly precarious position, facing terminal illness without a clear path to secure his family’s future control of Chechnya.
Adam’s Rapid Rise
Despite Putin’s opposition, Kadyrov has continued aggressively promoting his teenage son. Adam was appointed as the leader of his father’s security team in 2023 and was awarded the “Hero of the Chechen Republic” medal after a video emerged of him beating up a prisoner, which was praised by Ramzan himself.
Kadyrov later appointed him as the supervisor of the special forces training school in Gudermes in April 2024, an observer in the Sheikh Mansur Rifle Battalion, and as the superverisor of Chechnya’s interior ministry as well as the secretary of Checnya’s security council in April 2025.
The teenager’s recent lavish wedding became a display of dynastic ambition that reportedly irritated the Kremlin. Adam Kadyrov arrived behind the wheel of a new limited-edition Mercedes, which is currently illegal to import into Russia. He wore a diamond-studded wristwatch that journalists estimate retails for at least $2 million.
Kremlin’s Preferred Alternative
Putin’s preferred successor appears to be Apti Alaudinov, a 51-year-old security official who commands Chechen forces in Ukraine. So far, Apti Alaudinov, a 51-year-old top security official in Chechnya, is the Kremlin’s preferred successor, the sources said.
However, Alaudinov’s credentials have been questioned by military observers who note that the forces he commands have been ridiculed for staging videos of “participating” in the hostilities. Al Jazeera reported that these forces barely distinguished themselves in combat and mostly have to police Russia-occupied areas in Ukraine.
Health Denials and Cover-Ups
Kadyrov has repeatedly attempted to dismiss health rumours through carefully staged public appearances. “I keep hearing rumours about my illness, saying I’m dying, that I don’t have much time left. First, sickness and death are the fate of every person,” Kadyrov continued in a video published in May 2025.
However, sources suggest these appearances are increasingly orchestrated to mask his declining condition. Kadyrov also resorts to prerecorded videos that are broadcast for several consecutive days to create the illusion of his busy, uninterrupted work schedule, they said.
Regional Implications
Kadyrov’s health crisis poses significant challenges for Moscow’s control over the volatile North Caucasus region. The Chechen leader has ruled with an iron fist since 2007, suppressing separatist movements through brutal repression whilst providing Putin with unwavering loyalty and military support.
Kadyrov is “very worried” about his family’s destiny after his death, according to Ansar Dishni of Nyiso, a Telegram channel that publishes insider news from Chechnya. “Of course, the Kremlin has given his family security guarantees, but everything can change because Putin is also not forever,” Dishni told Al Jazeera.
International Sanctions and Isolation
The Turkish resort incident highlights how senior Russian officials continue to holiday in NATO countries despite international sanctions. Bodrum has become a popular destination for wealthy Russians and regional elites, even as Western nations have imposed extensive travel restrictions on Kremlin-linked figures.
Kadyrov himself faces numerous international sanctions for his role in human rights abuses and support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His ability to travel freely to Turkey underscores the limitations of current sanction regimes.
Ukraine War Contributions
Throughout his health struggles, Kadyrov has remained a key supporter of Putin’s war in Ukraine. During the meeting in Putin’s office, Kadyrov boasted of 55,000 Chechen servicemen fighting in Ukraine and read a laundry list of economic achievements under his rule.
His Kadyrovtsy militia has played significant roles in the conflict, though their military effectiveness has been questioned by defence analysts who suggest they primarily serve policing functions in occupied territories.
Looking Ahead
The drowning incident in Turkey serves as a stark reminder of Kadyrov’s mortality and the unresolved succession crisis that threatens stability in one of Russia’s most sensitive regions. With his health deteriorating and Putin blocking his dynastic ambitions, the Chechen leader finds himself increasingly isolated and desperate.
The failure to secure his son’s succession, combined with his terminal diagnosis, leaves Kadyrov facing the prospect that his family’s two-decade grip on power in Chechnya may not survive his death. This uncertainty could have far-reaching implications for the North Caucasus and Putin’s broader control over Russia’s restive regions.
As the Turkish drowning incident demonstrates, even Kadyrov’s attempts at peaceful recreation are overshadowed by the health crisis and political battles that define his final years in power.
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