Adam Kadyrov, the 15-year-old offspring of Ramzan Kadyrov, has been conferred the title of Hero of Chechnya for defeating Nikita Zhuravel, who is implicated in a case involving the desecration of the Quran. The announcement was disclosed by State Duma representative and Adam’s uncle, Adam Delimkhanov, on his Telegram channel.
“Without question, our esteemed nephew Adam Ramzanovich epitomizes an extraordinarily proficient, comprehensively educated, and resolute young individual. From his formative years, he has exhibited managerial and organizational prowess, consistently striving for self-improvement,” articulated the legislator.
Delimkhanov further enumerated Adam Kadyrov’s accomplishments, highlighting his mastery of the Quran, academic excellence, and diverse scholarly pursuits ranging from history and languages to literature. He also “achieved a series of unequivocal triumphs in esteemed mixed martial arts competitions.”
“Moreover, my cherished nephew clinched the top spot in an internal contest at the 10th open tactical shooting championship among law enforcement bodies, held at the RUS base in Goudermes. In this setting, Adam proved himself as a bona fide warrior,” added the parliamentarian.
Controversy over Nikita Zhuravel’s assault in the detention facility
In late September, Ramzan Kadyrov released a video on his Telegram channel depicting his son Adam physically confronting Nikita Zhuravel, a 19-year-old resident of Volgograd. Zhuravel has been incarcerated in a Grozny detention center since May 2023 for burning the Quran. The detainee had previously lodged a complaint with Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Tatiana Moskalkova, regarding the physical abuse inflicted by Adam Kadyrov last August. An inquiry was subsequently initiated by the Ombudsman.
Ramzan Kadyrov expressed unreserved pride in his son’s actions, stating that “any individual who violates the sanctity of a religious text, including by openly burning it, thereby offending a vast segment of our nation’s populace, warrants stringent retribution.”
According to official documents, Zhuravel had uploaded a video in May 2023 on a website overseen by the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Center for Information and Psychological Operations (CIPSO), showcasing the Quran being burned in front of a mosque in Volgograd. The investigative committee also revealed that Zhuravel confessed to other collaborative activities in Kyiv, including capturing footage of military installations.
Zhuravel is facing charges under the article pertaining to the insult of religious sentiments (part 2 of article 148 of the Criminal Code), with the harshest penalty being a one-year imprisonment. The Investigative Committee’s Chairman, Alexander Bastrykin, forwarded the case files to Chechnya, citing “multiple requests” from local residents to be recognized as victims.
In mid-August, Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova acknowledged Zhuravel’s grievance. He claimed that he was assaulted in the detention facility by Adam Kadyrov, the adolescent son of Chechnya’s leader.
In the Kremlin, it was reported that the video of Adam Kadyrov’s assault on a prisoner was known but would not be commented upon. State Duma members emphasized the prohibition of extrajudicial punishments, while human rights advocates stressed the importance of adhering to detention regulations. Conversely, Chechen politicians endorsed Adam Kadyrov’s actions.
On the morning of October 4, the Baza telegraph channel, citing responses from the Commission of Inquiry (CI) and the prosecutor’s office, reported that Grozny law enforcement is probing the assault on Nikita Zhuravel by Adam Kadyrov. The channel did not specify the recipients of these official responses.
According to documents accessible to Baza, the inquiry is being conducted by the police department of Grozny’s Akhmatovsky district, under the scrutiny of the Chechen prosecutor’s office.
Later that day, it was revealed that, based on the findings of the investigation, law enforcement declined to initiate criminal proceedings against Adam Kadyrov for assaulting Nikita Zhuravel. The rationale provided was Adam Kadyrov’s age; at 15, he has not yet reached the age of criminal liability, which commences at 16.
