Vladimir Putin Ally Ramzan Kadyrov in ‘Critical Condition’

While Kadyrov’s health was said to have taken a downturn within the last few days, rumors of the Putin ally’s health have circulated for months.

Last year, Akhmad Zakayev, the former vice prime minister of Chechnya, claimed that Kadyrov had a serious kidney disease to German newspaper Bild. As rumors continued to swirl, Kadyrov finally addressed comments on his health in March.

“People are attributing various diseases to me: Sometimes I have problems with my kidneys, sometimes with the liver,” Kadyrov said to his cronies.