Alleged Near-Drowning Incident Reignites Concerns Over Ramzan Kadyrov's Health and Po litical Future

Bodrum, Turkey – Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov reportedly suffered a near-drowning incident while on holiday in Bodrum, Turkey, an event that has once again brought his long-speculated health issues and political future into sharp focus. Turkish media outlets widely reported the incident on Thursday, July 24, stating Kadyrov required emergency medical assistance.

According to Turkish newspapers like Nefes, Milliyet, and Yeni Şafak, Kadyrov was staying in the Kainar district of Bodrum when he allegedly began choking in the sea around noon. Security personnel and attendants quickly called for emergency services. Milliyet reported that he received first aid on the beach before being transported by ambulance to a private clinic, identified by Kent TV as the American Hospital of Bodrum. Yeni Şafak indicated that Kadyrov remained under medical observation for some time but is now in stable condition. Haberler further noted that his life is no longer in danger.

While Turkish media cited anonymous sources and did not specify the exact date of the incident beyond "at noon" on July 24, Kent TV later published photographs on July 25 showing a motorcade, including police cars and an ambulance, leaving the hospital, purportedly with the Chechen leader.

Neither Russian nor Chechen official sources have issued any public statements regarding the incident. Interestingly, Kadyrov's daughter, Aishat, posted a photo of a sunset at a seaside resort on Instagram on the evening of July 24, though without direct comment on the events.

This latest incident comes amidst months of noticeably reduced public activity by Kadyrov. He has largely avoided public appearances, with his presence at government meetings often limited and brief, where he frequently remains silent or makes only short remarks. Despite this, Chechnya’s Minister for National Policy, External Relations, Press, and Information, Akhmed Dudaev, claimed last week that Kadyrov attended "more than 30 newsworthy events" in the first half of the month, though he did not address the leader's absence from key June meetings.

Speculation about Kadyrov's health is not new. The independent Russian media outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported that he was diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis in 2019, with his condition reportedly worsening sharply in 2022 and again in 2025. A February 2025 report suggested he underwent medical treatment for several weeks at a private clinic in Grozny owned by his wife, Medni Kadyrova.

Kadyrov has previously attempted to dispel these rumors, releasing a video in April 2024 showing him exercising. In May 2025, amidst persistent reports of his deteriorating health, he released a video accompanied by a text stating: "I will live as long as I am destined to," and "death is the path of every person." That same month, he publicly expressed a desire to step down as Chechnya's head, suggesting "another person would bring new ideas and visions." This was not his first such statement.

Following his remarks about stepping down, Kadyrov met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after which he announced he had received the president’s backing and would remain in his position. The Kremlin has not confirmed any resignation plans.

The ongoing health concerns have also fueled discussions about potential successors. iStories (Vazhnye istorii) claimed that Kadyrov had been preparing to pass power to his third son, 17-year-old Adam Kadyrov, a proposal reportedly not supported by the Kremlin due to Russian law prohibiting anyone under 30 from heading a region. Conversely, Novaya Gazeta (and implicitly Novaya Gazeta Europe) reported that the Russian Presidential Administration has been developing a scenario for a change of power in Chechnya since September 2023, with the commander of the "Akhmat" unit, Apti Alaudinov, named as a likely successor.

The alleged incident in Bodrum serves as a stark reminder of the persistent questions surrounding Ramzan Kadyrov’s health and the implications for the leadership of Chechnya.