Simon Roberts // PHOTOGRAPHY / Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov (born 5 October 1976, Tsenteroi, Chechnya) is President of Chechnya in Southern Russia and leader of a powerful Chechen militia known as kadyrovtsy. He is the son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, who was assassinated in May 2004, and was awarded the Hero of Russia medal, the highest honorary title of the Russian Federation. Kadyrov has the backing of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who had hoped that Kadryov would be able to bring under control the Islamist insurgents battling in the Caucasus region for a breakaway state who have made several terrorist attacks in Moscow (security analysts suspect Islamist separatists of organizing the recent terrorits attack at Domodedovo Airport attack on January 24 because of its magnitude and method.).
As the head of the Chechen Presidential Security Service, he has often been accused of being brutal, ruthless and antidemocratic. Human rights activists say the violence by insurgents is provoked by a savage crackdown on peaceful civilians by authorities in the region, and hold Kadyrov and his feared private army to blame.
These photographs of Kadyrov were taken around the region of Chechnya including Grozny and Tsenteroi, in March 2006.
