Why is Putin’s Chechen strongman missing from Russia’s ruling party’s election slate?

Ramzan Kadyrov has been left off the ruling United Russia party's election list for Chechnya for the first time since 2007, fuelling fresh speculation about his political future and succession plans.

When Russia's ruling party, United Russia, released its election slate for Chechnya last week, there was one notable omission. Ramzan Kadyrov, Head of the Chechen Republic, was absent from the list - the first time since 2007 that the Kremlin loyalist hasn't been included.

AnewZ spoke to Harold Chambers, a political analyst specialising in the North Caucasus, about the significance of Kadyrov's absence and what it could mean for Chechnya and Russia as voters prepare to elect members of Russia's parliament.

In recent years, rumours about Kadyrov's declining health have repeatedly surfaced, most notably in January, when he appeared in official footage on his Telegram channel walking with the aid of a cane.

Health rumours and retirement threats

"It is possible his health has degraded to such a degree that he must scale back commitments even publicly and high-profile," Chambers said.

Kadyrov has also repeatedly floated the idea of retiring or stepping back from his duties.

In 2025, he said he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to relieve him of his duties, but reversed course just days later following a meeting with the Russian leader.

"Kadyrov's absence from the list could be a new form of his oft-stated intent to retire," Chambers explained.

"Kadyrov could be seeking to either win some concessions from the Kremlin regarding succession plans or generally convey the need to plan for post-Kadyrov governance."

Chambers added that any intention to retire may form part of Kadyrov's broader strategy for a "generational turnover of political elites in Chechnya".

The Kadyrov dynasty 

In recent years, Kadyrov has been positioning two of his sons, Akhmat Kadyrov and Adam Kadyrov, as part of his succession planning.

Adam, 18, was appointed Head of the Chechen Republic's Security Service in 2023, while Akhmat, 20, became Acting Deputy Prime Minister in January.

For Chambers, Kadyrov's absence from the electoral slate likely signals an "acceleration" of this transfer of power.

The process, he noted, involves constructing "robust personas for his sons", as well as the "moving around, through promotions, lateral reassignments and removals," of political elites to accommodate their rise.

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According to Chambers, there is no sign that Kadyrov's omission from the list reflects any deterioration in his relationship with the Kremlin.

Just on Monday, Kadyrov was once again nominated as United Russia's canddiate for Head of Chechnya, a position he has held since 2011.

"Any additional indicators of it representing a change in the relationship have been absent," Chambers said.

The remainder of the parlimentary list consists largely of incumbents and regional political figures, including Magomed Daudov, who has served as Chechen Prime Minister since May 2024, and First Deputy Prime Minister Isa Tumkhadzhiev.

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