Putin appoints warlord
The week's news at a glance.
Grozny, Russia
President Vladimir Putin has appointed warlord Ramzan Kadyrov president of Chechnya. Kadyrov, a widely feared militia commander, has been Chechnya’s prime minister and de facto ruler since his father, President Akhmad Kadyrov, was assassinated in 2004. His militia is notorious for brutalizing villages into submission through kidnapping and torture. “This shows you Putin’s contempt for the Chechens,” said Usam Baysaev of the Russian human-rights group Memorial. “A man with people around him that only know how to kill and torture has been handed the reins of power.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 suspiciously good cartoons about the Epstein files
Cartoons Artists take on the relationship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein
-
A glorious Greek island without the 'swank'
The Week Recommends Lesbos doesn't welcome 'hoards' of tourists, but is 'magnificent' and worth exploring
-
Norman Tebbit: fearsome politician who served as Thatcher's enforcer
In the Spotlight Former Conservative Party chair has died aged 94