Documentary claims Chechen leader had two children with underage girls

A documentary released by investigative Russian news outlet Proekt on Monday has alleged that Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov fathered two of his 12 children with underage girls.

Despite the age of consent in Russia being 16 years old, the film claims that Fatima Khazueva was 14 years old when Kadyrov began having sex with her, and that she gave birth to Kadyrov’s second son Eli when she was 15. Similarly, the outlet said that Zamira Dzhabrailova was 15 years old when Kadyrov had sexual relations with her and that she subsequently gave birth to Kadyrov’s third son, Adam, at the age of 16.

While officially the children of Kadyrov’s wife, Medni Kadyrova, Eli and Adam Kadyrov are aware of their backgrounds, Proekt reported. Despite Kadyrov effectively having three wives and multiple mistresses, only Kadyrova is legally recognised as such due to a Russian law prohibiting plural marriage.

Citing a source saying that Kadyrov “prefers virginal young girls” and employs an assistant who can procure “dozens, maybe hundreds” of minors for the brutal autocrat, Proekt stressed that Kadyrov was known to have had sexual relations with several other girls under 18 who did not become pregnant.

As Kadyrov rose to power in the early 2000s, his impunity appeared to know no limits according to one source, who said that his entourage would kidnap young girls on their way to school and take them directly to Kadyrov. Many of his victims reportedly continue to live with the stigma of having been one of Kadyrov’s “concubines” and are unmarried.

While the film bases its claims on documents obtained by Proekt, as well as on sources in Kadyrov’s inner circle, several of the women were identified by the lyrics to a 2011 song by Chechen singer and former Kadyrov mistress Tamila Sagaipova, who named 11 of Kadyrov’s mistresses in the song, claiming to be his favourite.