Chechnya’s leader says he’s ready to resign
MOSCOW — Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced Monday that he is ready to step down — a move largely perceived as a publicity stunt.
Kadyrov said in a rare interview aired Monday morning that it is his “dream” to step down because he finds the responsibility of leading the Russian region to be too heavy.
Kremlin-backed Kadyrov, a former rebel who switched his loyalties to Moscow, has been the dominant figure in Chechnya since the 2004 assassination of his father, President Akhmad Kadyrov.
Kadyrov Jr. has previously spoken about wanting to resign but never followed through. His public statements have been widely seen as part of a power play with the Kremlin for privileges and extra funding for his region which relies on subsidies from the federal budget.