World

Kremlin releases video of Putin with ally after rumours of ill health

Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with Ramzan Kadyrov – after rumours about the Chechen leader’s health.

Speculation suggested Mr Kadyrov has been suffering from serious health problems – which he has rejected.

Alexey Venediktov, former editor-in-chief of Echo of Moscow, previously said the Chechen leader was in hospital with “severe kidney failure” which requires “frequent hemodialysis”.

Earlier this month, Mr Kadyrov posted a video on social media of him walking outdoors in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, urging people not to believe the rumours about his health.

There was some speculation that video was pre-recorded.

The latest footage of him meeting the president – which lasts around four seconds – does not show the Chechen leader’s face.

However, separate images have been released that show a man who appears to be Mr Kadyrov with Putin.

The meeting comes three days after Mr Kadyrov published a video of his teenage son beating up a prisoner accused of burning a copy of the Koran, Islam’s sacred text.

The Kremlin refused to comment on that incident.

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