A close ally to Vladimir Putin has released a video of himself at hospital to prove he is still alive, amid claims that he was in poor health.
Ramzan Kadyrov, 46, leader of Russia’s Chechen Republic posted the video from inside a Moscow hospital.
It was his first confirmed sighting in 20 days.
In the video, he appears alongside his “dear uncle” Magomed Kadyrov, a Russian politician, who lies in bed.
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He kisses him on the hand and head as a conversation ensues with a doctor over Magomed’s condition.
“I cheered up my dear uncle, and wished him a speedy recovery,” Kadyrov captioned the video on his Telegram channel.
He continued: "I will also comment on the rumours surrounding my health condition. Praise be to the Almighty, I am alive and well and I don’t understand at all why there should be a fuss even in the case of my illness?
“However, there is an advantage in this. Now the audience knows which media and which persons are blatantly lying to their readers."
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Last week, rumours circulated about his health after a Chechan opposition channel, Niyso, wrote that he had fallen into a coma.
His spokespeople refused to answer any phone calls as people tried to establish communication with him.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian military intelligence, said that Kadyrov was in “critical condition”.
On Tuesday (September 19) the Kremlin said that it had nothing to say about the health of the Chechan leader.
“I have nothing to add,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“It is not the function of the presidential administration to give messages about the state of health of anyone.”
Kaydrov's spokespeople did not answer any calls whilst he was "missing"
Reuters
Kadyrov, 46, is believed to be a pivotal player in the Ukrainian war and close ally of Putin's.
Prior to the release of the video, Kadyrov was last seen on September 1.
The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank said that Kadyrov’s death or ill health would strike a “major blow” to Putin.
The news comes after a top Russian general spoke this week about Russia’s expansion of the war effort into Europe.
General Andrey Mordvichev admitted that the war in Ukraine is “a stepping stone” for the rest of Eastern Europe.
Mordvichev was asked how long the fighting would last, to which he replied: “There is still plenty of time. It is pointless to talk about a specific period.”
“If we are talking about Eastern Europe, which we will have to, of course then it will be longer.”