Thread by @ZidanSports

Ramzan Kadyrov rules over Chechnya with an iron fist, purging sexual minorities, collectively punishing dissidents, torturing critics & assassinating opponents.

Yet little is said about Patriot, Lord & Delimkhanov—the men who ensure Kadyrov’s tyranny knows no bounds.

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Lets begin with Abuzayed Vismuradov, referred to by his nom de guerre, Patriot. He is one of the three most powerful men in Chechnya & is fiercely loyal to Kadyrov. Vismuradov went to the same school as Kadyrov and later fought alongside him during the Chechen wars.

Patriot was known as the man who got Kadyrov the results he wanted. If there was a village that needed burning down, you sent Patriot. If you needed someone tortured to send a message, you sent Patriot.

Among his crimes, Patriot was sanctioned by the U.S. government for his role in the purge of LGBTQ+ people in Chechnya starting in 2017.

Some of the reports are too graphic to repeat here.

Patriot commands Chechnya’s Special Forces, a special Chechen SWAT team known as ‘Terek’, as well as Kadyrov’s private security detail – a national security trifecta that makes him practically indispensable to Kadyrov’s government.

Yet despite Patriot’s prominent position as protector of Chechnya’s dictator, he was also dealt the responsibility of overseeing Kadyrov’s Akhmat MMA fight club. He is present at all events, either seated alongside Kadyrov or looming over officials during the broadcast.

This raises the interesting question of why such an important military figure in Chechnya would be placed in charge of a combat sports team.

The answer is simple: Akhmat MMA is far more than just another fight club.

Over 15,000 Chechens, including the children of high-ranking officials, train at Kadyrov’s fight clubs. Only a handful of them go on to become full-time fighters representing their republic. This leaves thousands of well-trained fighters with little to do.

Many become soldiers

In 2017, I spoke to HBO Real Sports about how Patriot uses Akhmat fight clubs as elaborate farming system for Kadyrov’s private army. Five years later, it is even more relevant.

Here is the clip:

Next is Adam Delimkhanov, a member of Russia’s lower parliament who was once wanted by Interpol for masterminding the assassination of Kadyrov’s rival Sulim Yamadayev.

Delimkhanov is now a deputy PM in Chechnya and is one of the men responsible for maintaining order in the republic. He also occasionally acts as drivers for celebrities like Floyd Mayweather when they visit Kadyrov.

Most recently, Delimkhanov threatened to rip the heads off the family of a Chechen human rights activist for daring to speak out against Kadyrov. His statement drew criticism from Russian politicians but little was done to stop him.

Last but not least is Magomed Daudov, better known as “Lord.” Daudov is a reformed militant who switched to Kadyrov’s side and became a leading watchdog in his government.

Lord is one of the most dangerous men in Chechnya. He has blackmailed judges, threatened politicians, and been accused of assault and torture on countless occasions. He was also involved in Kadyrov’s purge of sexual minorities.

Apart from serving as Kadyrov’s enforcer, Lord is also in charge of Chechnya’s FC Akhmat Grozny football team, effectively making it an extension of Kadyrov’s government.

Here he is posing alongside Kadyrov & Ronaldinho at the Akhmat stadium.

Sports serve as the crux of Kadyrov’s regime and a key source of his tyrannical rule. While military might directly influences Kadyrov’s immediate power, sports like mixed martial arts and football ensure he cements his absolute authority over his people’s lives.

Nevertheless, Kadyrov relies on his three most loyal henchmen to ensure that he is able to operate Chechnya like his own personal fiefdom. Without these men by his side, Kadyrov’s tyrannical regime would not be as effective.

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