Based on the text provided, here is a detailed analysis.
1. Summary of the Text
The text argues that UFC fighters like Kamzat Chimayev, Islam Makhachev, and Khabib Nurmagomedov associate with the president of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, not out of friendship or for money, but out of terrifying coercion. Citing the documentary “A Biography Written in Blood” by the Russian outlet Pro, the text details Kadyrov’s ruthless rise to power, which began after his father, Akhmad Kadyrov, was assassinated in 2004 with Vladimir Putin’s support. The narrative strongly implies Ramzan was involved in his father’s death, as well as the subsequent mysterious deaths of his brother Zelimkhan Kadyrov and his right-hand man, Magomed Israilov, who was allegedly fed to lions.
The text describes Kadyrov’s personal cruelty, mentioning his multiple wives, including Medni Kadyrova and Fatima Khazuyeva, and the alleged murder of another wife, Zhanetta Mukuayeva, for disobedience. It also highlights the suspicious deaths of his son Adam Kadyrov’s trainer, Abdul-Kerim Edilov, and bodyguard, Murat Agmerzoev, after they supposedly failed to control Adam’s behavior. Kamzat Chimayev was brought in to train Kadyrov’s children shortly after, implying a direct threat.
Kadyrov’s power is attributed to his role as Putin’s loyal enforcer for the Russian Federation. The text presents the assassination of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov near the Kremlin as an example of Kadyrov’s men, including Zaur Dadayev of the Sever Battalion, carrying out Putin’s “dirty work.”
Finally, the text argues that there is no escape from Kadyrov, citing the murders of his rivals from the Yamadayev family, like Sulim Yamadayev in Dubai, and a former bodyguard, Umar Israilov, in Vienna. These acts demonstrate his global reach, leaving fighters like Chimayev with no choice but to comply and feign loyalty to protect themselves and their families, regardless of their location in places like Sweden or the United Arab Emirates.
2. List of Arguments Expressed
- Fighters’ Association with Kadyrov is Based on Fear: The primary argument is that prominent combat sports athletes publicly align with Ramzan Kadyrov due to intimidation and fear for their lives and the safety of their families, rather than genuine allegiance or financial incentives.
- Kadyrov is a Ruthless Dictator Who Rose to Power Through Murder: The text argues that Kadyrov’s ascent was built on the suspicious deaths of his father, brother, and key rivals, showcasing a pattern of eliminating anyone in his way.
- Kadyrov Maintains Power Through Extreme Violence and Intimidation: He allegedly uses murder, torture, and public humiliation to control his inner circle and the populace, as illustrated by the stories of his murdered wife, executed bodyguards, and a rival allegedly fed to lions.
- Kadyrov is an Instrument of Vladimir Putin: The text posits that Kadyrov’s unchecked power is enabled by Vladimir Putin, for whom he acts as a loyal executioner, handling political assassinations and other “dirty work” that the Kremlin cannot do openly.
- Kadyrov’s Reach is Global and Inescapable: The narrative argues that opposition to Kadyrov is futile because his network of assassins operates internationally, as shown by high-profile murders in Dubai and Vienna, meaning no one is safe from his wrath.
3. List of Fallacies
- Appeal to Fear: The text frequently uses emotionally charged language (“the truth is terrifying,” “inhuman cruelty,” “devil in the flesh,” “nowhere to run”) to persuade the audience by invoking fear, rather than relying solely on a detached presentation of evidence.
- Argument from Innuendo / Weasel Words: The author makes severe accusations using speculative language, such as “it’s openly suggested,” “reportedly promised,” “many of the facts point in that direction,” and “another version suggested.” This allows them to advance claims about Kadyrov’s involvement in murders without providing definitive proof.
- Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc (False Cause): The text implies causation from sequence. For example, it states that Akhmad Kadyrov was assassinated “soon after his sharp public criticism,” implying one caused the other. Similarly, the meeting between Chimayev and Kadyrov happening in the same year as the bodyguards’ deaths is presented to imply a direct threat.
- Poisoning the Well: The text establishes Kadyrov as an “inhuman” and “ruthless” figure from the outset. By doing so, it frames all subsequent information in a negative light, making the audience more likely to accept the worst possible interpretation of any event he is connected to.
- One-Sidedness (Card Stacking): The narrative presents only information that supports its thesis. It mentions the “official” version of events (e.g., militants killed Akhmad Kadyrov) only to immediately dismiss it without presenting a balanced view or considering alternative explanations in good faith.
4. List of Controversial Points
- Ramzan Kadyrov’s Complicity in his Father’s and Brother’s Deaths: The text strongly implies that Ramzan Kadyrov was involved in the assassination of his own father, Akhmad Kadyrov, and the mysterious death of his brother, Zelimkhan, in order to seize power.
- Feeding a Traitor to Lions: The claim that Kadyrov had his former right-hand man, Magomed Israilov, fed to lions in his private zoo is a graphic and shocking accusation.
- Murdering a Wife for Disobedience: The allegation that Kadyrov had one of his wives, Zhanetta Mukuayeva, shot dead in the street for disobeying him.
- Cover-up of his Son’s Crimes: The assertion that Adam Kadyrov has a drug problem, killed people in a car accident, and that his trainer and bodyguard were subsequently murdered to silence them or as punishment.
- Kadyrov as Putin’s Assassin: The explicit claim that Ramzan Kadyrov acts as Vladimir Putin’s personal executioner and that the assassination of Boris Nemtsov was a political hit ordered by Putin and carried out by Kadyrov’s men.
- Impunity for International Murders: The claim that Kadyrov can orchestrate assassinations in sovereign foreign nations like the United Arab Emirates and Austria with the protection of the Russian state, facing no real consequences.