On September 3, Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Russia's Chechen province, declared on Telegram that he deserved to take an indefinite and extended vacation from his position. This statement sparked rumors that he was considering resigning or was requesting a favor from the Kremlin. 

“I realized that I have been sitting in my position for a long time,” he said in a video statement peppered with laughs. “I think my time has come [to leave power] before I will be kicked out. I hope you support and understand me," he added. 

Kadyrov has commanded Chechnya since 2007, which is the longest tenure of any ruler of a territory under Russian authority. The last time Kadyrov ran for president again was in September 2021; he is now serving a four-year term that ends in 2026. Vladimir Putin pushed Kadyrov to run, and he did so without any opposition, winning with 99.97% of the vote. Despite promising to protect human rights in his inauguration speech last year for his fourth term, the longtime leader has been accused by advocacy groups of overseeing and turning a blind eye to kidnappings, torture, and murders, as well as the repression of political opposition and the implementation of repressive laws against the LGBTQ community.

There are concerns that Kadyrov's sudden revelation was a ruse given that he has previously made similar remarks while holding onto his position.