Ramzan Kadyrov posts photo of meeting in Grozny following reports of his hospitalization for COVID-19

On his Telegram channel, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said that he was taking part in a meeting of the regional headquarters for combatting the coronavirus in Grozny on May 26. 

Kadyrov attached a photo of the meeting, which includes a person that looks like him, but the picture quality is not good enough for this to be confirmed.

The state-run media outlets Grozny.tv and Chechnya Segodnya also published this photo.

On May 21, the news outlets Baza, Interfax, and TASS reported that Kadyrov had been hospitalized in Moscow, and was suspected of having contracted the coronavirus. Baza reported that Kadyrov’s condition had improved on May 23, stating that the Chechen leader remained under medical supervision at that time.  

On May 26, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that he did not have “any information” about Kadyrov’s alleged illness and promised to “inquire about his health.” Peskov himself returned to work on May 25; he was previously on medical leave after announcing his own coronavirus diagnosis on May 12.

Chechen Parliamentary Speaker Magomed Daudov referred to reports of Kadyrov falling ill as “gossip.”