Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov plans to leave politics

Ramzan Kadyrov, president of Chechnya, has revealed that he plans to stand down from politics once he has fulfilled his task. He stated that he has no ambition to run for higher office, but would prefer to spend more time with his family.

The controversial, enigmatic leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, who has served as President since 2007, said on Monday that he plans to leave politics when his tasks are completed. He emphasized that he will not seek out a higher office, having already denied that he has ambitions to stand as President of the Russian Federation. Kadyrov's avowed aim is to spend more time with his family. The Moscow Times reported he said "I have a large family, whom I don't pay enough attention to at the moment. I will not aspire to anything but will do home things." However, he is not planning to leave politics immediately and has not ruled out standing for another term as president. He said "If I fulfill my task, if I’m able to quit politics properly, it will be a great joy to me. But 'quitting properly' doesn’t mean I want to quit right now. It means that the republic is gradually achieving its goals.” (Ria.ru.) Kadyrov, who enjoys the finer things in life, bought Green Destiny earlier this week, a race horse tipped to win the Dubai World Cup. In spite of Chechnya's apparent poverty, President Kadyrov last year accounted for the region's wealth by saying "Allah gives it to us. I don't know, it comes from somewhere." (Telegraph) Kadyrov remains a strong supporter of Vladimir Putin, having enjoyed the backing of the Kremlin during his time as Chechen president. He expects Putin to return to the position of president following the March elections.