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Dynastic Propaganda: How Kadyrov weaponizes his sons to secure his bloodline

Earlier this month, Eli Kadyrov—one of Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov’s four fighting sons—stepped into the ring in his latest amateur boxing match broadcast throughout the Russian Federation.

Dressed in a pair of white and gold shorts with a matching vest and a black headguard, the Eli confidently picked apart his opponent, Khetag Khatkarov, in a fight designed to showcase the Kadyrov princeling’s technical superiority. The fight, which took place in Grozny, Chechnya under the “Time of Legends-7” banner, lasted the better part of three rounds before Khatkarov opted to simply stop fighting.

Though amateur boxers are not awarded physical titles, Eli was handed a championship belt while being applauded by his father and his henchmen, all of whom were in attendance.