Chechen Leader Kadyrov to Visit Assad in Syria

By The Moscow Times

April 4, 2016

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov Kremlin Press Service

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced that he intends to visit Syria at the invitation of Syrian President Bashar Assad, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Monday.

In an interview with RIA Novosti, Kadyrov said that Assad had invited him on two separate occasions, however, he had not had the time accept the offer.

When asked about whether the trip would take place before Russian elections in September, Kadyrov replied ?€?As long as I perform my duties well, there is no reason I won't be re-elected.?€?

Kadyrov added that he had visited Damascus previously, before the war.

Following a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin in March 2016, Kadyrov is currently the acting head of state for the Russian republic of Chechnya.

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