Kadyrov's Son Struggles to Read Report in Viral Video

An awkward moment at a Chechen security meeting has gone viral in recent days: Adam Kadyrov, the 18-year-old son of Chechen ruler Ramzan Kadyrov, was filmed struggling to read text from a page placed before him. Sitting across from him was his father, whose facial expression during the reading did not escape viewers' notice.

The video, distributed online on September 17, was filmed during a meeting focused on security preparations ahead of Russian elections. Adam Kadyrov read a report to senior officials in Chechnya's security apparatus, using a printed text. During the reading, he stopped several times, spoke slowly, and struggled to pronounce parts of the text clearly.

The heir apparent struggled to read and sparked embarrassment (Photo: Social media)

But the story extends far beyond the video itself. The 18-year-old Adam Kadyrov already holds a string of significant positions in Chechnya's government and security apparatus. In April 2025, when he was 17, he was appointed secretary of Chechnya's Security Council, a role that made him one of the youngest people ever to hold such a senior position in the local security establishment.

Adam Kadyrov has become an especially controversial figure in recent years. After a video surfaced showing him beating a detainee suspected of burning a Quran, he received a series of positions, decorations, and medals at an unusual pace for his age. In January 2026, his name was linked to a serious car accident in Grozny in which, according to reports, he and members of his entourage were injured, and a person in another vehicle was apparently killed; Chechen authorities never officially confirmed details of the accident.

Adam Kadyrov posted a photo with a full arsenal of light weapons (Photo: Social media)

Months later a video circulated showing Kadyrov driving a car at 70 mph in an area where the speed limit was 30 mph, crossing a double dividing line and using his phone while driving. Days after the video's release, he even received a commendation medal from Russian traffic police.

Even before that, Adam was appointed to head his father's personal security detail, and later received additional positions related to security mechanisms and special forces. According to recent reports, he also received command of the Dastum K-13 unit, where fighters train in drone operation, tactical shooting, and casualty evacuation, among other skills.

The content of the meeting where the video was filmed was also significant: Adam reported on security apparatus preparations ahead of the election period, on cooperation between law enforcement agencies, and on monitoring of developments in the information space and on social networks. According to the report he read, no significant disturbances or provocations were recorded in Chechnya during the voting.