Facebook users* ridiculed Akhmat Kadyrov's new appointment.
The decision to appoint Ramzan Kadyrov's son as curator of education in Chechnya has sparked ridicule among social media users. Ramzan Kadyrov's other children have also been entrusted with curating various agencies, despite the absence of such positions in the Russian government system.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot," on January 15, the Chechen parliament approved the appointment of Ramzan Kadyrov's eldest son, Akhmat Kadyrov, as deputy prime minister of the republic. On February 10, Akhmat Kadyrov, who lacks a higher education, boasted that he had been appointed to oversee education in Chechnya.
Virtually the entire system of governance in Chechnya is tied personally to Ramzan Kadyrov and those close to him. Ramzan Kadyrov has 10 children: four sons (Akhmat, Zelimkhan, Adam, and Abdullah) and six daughters (Aishat, Karina (Khadizhat), Khedi (Khutmat), Tabarik, Ashura, and Eishat). You can read about which of Ramzan Kadyrov's relatives, friends, and fellow villagers have advanced in their careers in the "Caucasian Knot" report "The Main Clan of the Caucasus - the Kadyrov Family".
Facebook* users have left 92 comments under the "Caucasian Knot" article about Akhmat Kadyrov's appointment as of 12:55 p.m. Moscow time on February 11. The discussion centered on the question of how someone without a specialized education can oversee the education sector.
According to social media users, this isn't just a single incident, but rather an established practice of "insiders" getting positions, not specialists. Some commenters reacted mockingly.
"Well, that's it! "Now education will definitely rise to a new level," Den Bergman quipped. "What an educated person," Ruslan Ozdo added.
Some users sarcastically questioned Kadyrov Jr.'s readiness to oversee education. "Can he even read and write?" Bakhtiyar Kudaibergenov asked.
An ignoramus teaching a minister—that's only here.
"I doubt he's studying, more likely he's on the books," Albert Yan suggested. "An ignoramus teaching a minister—that's only possible here," wrote Ilyas Muratov.
"A comedy," commented Aliya Vildanova succinctly. "Where is the world coming to?" noted Aleksandr Yeoju.
Other commentators recalled that the head of Chechnya himself and his close associates have also received appointments and awards.
A family of professors and academics
"The family is going wild," wrote Valery Shterenberg. "A continuation of the 'medalists,'" noted Jasmin Jasmin. "A family of professors and academics," joked Vadim Belov.
Ramzan Kadyrov has more than 90 awards and titles, including the title of "Honorary Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences," according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Kadyrov and his awards." Ramzan Kadyrov's third son Adam Kadyrov began receiving numerous awards and titles in the fall of 2023, shortly after Nikita Zhuravel was beaten in pretrial detention. The head of Chechnya stated that his son received all the awards for specific achievements.
Some Facebook* users questioned the quality of the republic's education system, overseen by the son of the head of Chechnya. "The minister depends on the education," declared Vladimir Borodin. "Education from the uneducated," wrote Nik Pelc. "And what are they educating there?" wondered Oleg Nesterov.
Some readers also drew historical analogies. "Stalin and Lenin also lacked higher education," wrote Magomed Arbuliev. "Lenin graduated from high school," countered Bavakan Momtsemlidze. "Reread your biographies," added Oleg Nesterov.
In November 2023, when 18-year-old Akhmat Kadyrov was appointed First Deputy Minister for Physical Culture, Sports, and Youth Policy, lawyers interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" perceived a violation of republican law. By law, a position of this level cannot be held by someone without a complete higher education.
The position of curator exists only in the Chechen system of government.
Akhmat Kadyrov is not the first of the Chechen leader's children to be declared the curator of a republican department. Thus, in March 2023, 20-year-old Khutmat Kadyrova was appointed curator of the healthcare system.
The position of curator does not exist in the Russian system of public administration, and the position of curator of the Chechen healthcare system was invented specifically for Khutmat Kadyrova, according to analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot."
There is no such position as "curator," it simply does not exist.
"There is no such position as "curator" in the Russian government system, it simply does not exist. There is a chairman, a director, a minister, a boss, but a curator is not even a boss, he is some kind of observer. Comrades in Chechnya simply do not understand bureaucratic language very well, so they make up words that seem authoritative to them. The case "It's not about that, but about the functional meaning. It's simple: Kadyrov's daughter, whatever she says, must be followed. This is a case where the system operates based on family background, not professional qualifications," said political scientist Dmitry Oreshkin (included in the foreign agent registry).
A political scientist from Chechnya expressed a similar opinion at the time. "Now she, not the minister, will be in charge of the healthcare system. I don't think she will perform any important functions, but all significant decisions will be made with her consent. Thus, the ministry will be under Kadyrov's direct control," he said.
Adam Kadyrov has been declared a curator at least six times
Ramzan Kadyrov's third son, Adam, has been declared the curator of a number of structures. For example, in November 2023, 16-year-old Adam Kadyrov was named curator of a Ministry of Defense unit – the Sheikh Mansur Battalion.
In December of the same year, Adam Kadyrov was appointed curator of the Baysangur Benoevsky Battalion. State Duma deputy from Chechnya Adam Delimkhanov explained at the time that Adam Kadyrov "underwent comprehensive combat training" at the Russian Special Forces University in Gudermes.
Less than five months later, in April 2024, Adam Kadyrov became the curator of this Russian Special Forces University. The head of Chechnya explained this appointment at the request of the university's director, Baybetar Vaikhanov.
In March 2025, Adam Kadyrov was declared curator of the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs. The head of the ministry, Aslan Iraskhanov, noted at the time that the decision to appoint Adam Kadyrov was made on the instructions of Ramzan Kadyrov. Footage from the meeting showed Kadyrov Jr. sitting in the center of the event, with Minister Iraskhan to his left, and the heads of the Interior Ministry departments reporting to them standing.
In August of that year, Chechen authorities announced that three Chechen charitable foundations – Khaira, Daimokhk, and Ayub – would raise funds to provide aid to the residents of Palestine, with Adam Kadyrov appointed as the overseer of the aid.
A month and a half later, Ramzan Kadyrov announced that he had appointed his 17-year-old son Adam to oversee property tax collection from municipal organizations.
Years of ruling Chechnya have allowed Ramzan Kadyrov to build a total family cult. Leadership positions, key positions, awards, and names named after relatives—all this confirms the policy of "Akhmatization" of Chechnya. How Kadyrov is making himself and his family into idols is described in the "Caucasian Knot" report "In the Name of Father and Son: How the Kadyrov Cult is Being Implanted in Chechnya."