Image copyright
AFP
Image caption
Ramzan Kadyrov, 43, became president of the southern Russian republic in 2007
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been taken to hospital with suspected coronavirus, Russian media report.
He was flown to Moscow on Wednesday for treatment after developing flu-like symptoms, said Interfax news agency quoting a source.
“He’s in hospital in Moscow,” another source told the Ria Novosti agency.
The authoritarian leader – who previously fought against Moscow as a Chechen nationalist – is now a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He is considered one of the most feared men in Russia, BBC Moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg reports.
Mr Kadyrov has come under scrutiny for imposing his own interpretation of Islamic law in the region, as well as for his poor human rights record.
Unconfirmed reports suggested a plane belonging to the 43-year-old leader was tracked flying from near the Chechen capital, Grozny, to Vnukovo airport in Moscow on Thursday afternoon.
His condition is unknown, although initial reports suggested his doctor had recommended he travel to the Russian capital.
‘In personal control’
A close ally of the Chechen leader, Grozny TV chief Akhmed Dudayev, was quoted by Tass news agency as saying Ramzan Kadyrov “is personally in control of the situation, he is taking all necessary measures. The work of his headquarters is under his personal control”.
If the virus is confirmed, Mr Kadyrov would be the latest high-profile Russian official to contract the illness.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin only returned to work in the last few days after being treated in hospital for Covid-19.
Image copyright
Reuters
Image caption
Chechnya imposed a night-time curfew as part of its lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19
Presi