Ramzan Kadyrov’s 11 weirdest Instagrams

  Ramzan Kadyrov, the 36 year-old president of Chechnya, reported human rights violator, supercar driver, champion boxer, and prolific Instagrammer, has once again posted an amazingly bizarre photo to his Instagram account — posing with a lone wolf (Chechnya’s national animal). The caption reads: Wolf — The only animal that can go into a fight ...

609766_130515_wolf2.jpg
609766_130515_wolf2.jpg

 

 

Ramzan Kadyrov, the 36 year-old president of Chechnya, reported human rights violator, supercar driver, champion boxer, and prolific Instagrammer, has once again posted an amazingly bizarre photo to his Instagram accountposing with a lone wolf (Chechnya’s national animal). The caption reads:

Wolf — The only animal that can go into a fight against a stronger opponent. If he has lost the battle, he will look his opponent in the eye until the last breath, after which he dies…. The wolf always shows himself to his prey and chases it down on the run. It is for precisely this that we can respect them, despite their bloodthirstiness. #Chechnya #Hunting #Wolves.

(Interesting how Kadyrov, once a rebel fighter, appears to be evoking Chechen nationalism even as he grows closer and closer to Russian President Vladimir Putin.)

But there are two sides to this man, clearly. Here’s the picture Kadyrov posted just afterwards, of him cradling this cat:

Ever since November 2012, the Chechen strongman has been uploading several photos a day to the photo-sharing site — quite a self-indulgent act for someone who once called the task a “burden.” But how else to monitor public opinion, comment on current events, and appoint Instagram followers to his cabinet? In case you’re not one of Kadyrov’s 132,804 (and counting) Instagram followers, here are some of his weirdest pics:

 

1. #lounging #tiger #bondvillain

 

2. French actor Gérard Depardieu at table with Kadyrov and his identically dressed children.

 

3. Tracksuit? Check. Golden stag? Check. Let’s do this.  

 

4. The focus was on back, traps, and biceps.

 

5. “They fixed a few minor things, told me that I have excellent teeth and sent me off.” #oversharing

 

6. Kadyrov posted this photo along with a caption telling “friends, brothers, sisters, subscribers” to stop making appeals to him via Instagram (“more than half” weren’t true anyway!) and to stop arguing with each other in the comments section. #orthisiswhereiwillburyyou

 

7. Hugging the sheep the wolf will probably eat later. 

 

8. Chechen rulers — they’re just like us!

 

9. Just grabbing a bull by the horns, lounging on a tractor…

 

10. A perk of being president: as much Jello as you want.

 

11. Anything Putin can do, I can do better.

 

Christian Caryl contributed to this post. 

All photos from Ramzan Kadyrov’s Instagram page. 

Elizabeth Ralph is a researcher at Foreign Policy.
Read More On Eastern Europe | Russia

More from Foreign Policy

A man walks in front of an animated map of the world at an exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum.
A man walks in front of an animated map of the world at an exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum.

China Is Selectively Bending History to Suit Its Territorial Ambitions

Beijing’s unwillingness to let go of certain claims suggests there’s more at stake than reversing past losses.

Benjamin Netanyahu walks past Joe Biden as he prepares to sign the guestbook at the Prime Minister's residence on March 9, 2010 in Jerusalem.
Benjamin Netanyahu walks past Joe Biden as he prepares to sign the guestbook at the Prime Minister's residence on March 9, 2010 in Jerusalem.

The United States Has Less Leverage Over Israel Than You Think

A close look at the foundations of U.S. influence—and the lack of it.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his ballots at a polling station in Tehran on March 1.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his ballots at a polling station in Tehran on March 1.

Khamenei’s Strategy to Dominate the Middle East Will Outlive Him

Iran’s aging supreme leader is ensuring that any successor will stay the course.

A photo collage illustration of a finger made of bits of contracts and pieces of tech to represent a large corporation, pushing down on the American flag.
A photo collage illustration of a finger made of bits of contracts and pieces of tech to represent a large corporation, pushing down on the American flag.

America Has a Resilience Problem

The chair of the Federal Trade Commission makes the case for competition in an increasingly consolidated world.