Magomed Daudov. Photo: Chechen parliament
The former speaker of the Chechen parliament Magomed Daudov has been appointed the new premier of Chechnya, Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov announced on Friday evening.
“I have introduced my dear brother Magomed Daudov to the post of chairman of the government of the Chechen Republic,” Kadyrov wrote on his Telegram channel, “Given his extensive experience and high professionalism, I am sure that deputies will fully support Magomed Khozhakhmedovich’s candidacy.”
While Kadyrov added that it was up to the regional parliament to approve Daudov for the post, he nevertheless congratulated him in advance.
Daudov, who is often referred to as Kadyrov’s “attack dog”, resigned as chairman of the Chechen parliament on 15 May, having held the position since 2015. Known for both his brutality, Daudov also enjoys a reputation for efficiency and has in the past been tasked by Kadyrov to lead the republic’s Covid response strategy as well as to organise the conscription of Chechen fighters to serve in Ukraine.
Earlier on Friday, Kadyrov announced that Chechnya’s former prime minister Muslim Khuchiev, who resigned unexpectedly on Tuesday, had been appointed an aide to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
“I am glad that Muslim Khuchiev’s experience and talent, which he has successfully applied in our republic, are in demand at the federal level,” Kadyrov said after announcing the appointment, adding: “The trust placed in him is a good incentive for even better work to be done for the benefit of our great state."
Since Kadyrov’s diagnosis with a terminal disease became public knowledge last month, changes to the republic’s government are being scrutinised even more closely than usual as various contenders position themselves to replace the long-serving autocrat.
