Ramzan Kadyrov promoted to General of the Army by Putin

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been promoted to the rank of General of the Army, the highest military rank in the Russian Armed Forces below Marshal of the Russian Federation. The promotion was enacted via a presidential decree from Vladimir Putin.

During a ceremony in Grozny, Viktor Zolotov, the Director of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia), presented Kadyrov with his new golden shoulder straps and the prestigious maroon beret, a symbol of the special forces. Zolotov cited Kadyrov’s merits in the development of special forces units and National Guard troops as the basis for the distinction.

In a reciprocal gesture, Kadyrov awarded Zolotov the title of Hero of the Chechen Republic. Kadyrov, who has led Chechnya since 2006, previously held the rank of Colonel General.