Karim Zidan delves into the career trajectory of Abdul-Kerim Edilov, the former UFC fighter who recently became the vice-premier of Chechnya.
On Feb. 25, 2022, Ramzan Kadyrov‚—the brutal tyrant at the helm of the republic of Chechnya in Russia—stood before a sea of Chechen troops gathered in the center of Grozny to assess their combat readiness for deployment. Dressed in a khaki green outfit with a matching tactical belt and a pair of Prada boots, a menacing smile crept across his bearded face as he gave a rousing speech in support of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The notorious Chechen warlord was flanked by three of his most loyal henchmen—one of whom has been accused of torture and another of plotting an assassination—as well as three of his teenage sons, all of whom were dressed in military attire.