A new chapter for the Chaika dynasty: Artyom Chaika appointed advisor to Kadyrov

The head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov has announced appointing Artyom Chaika as his advisor for humanitarian, social, and economic matters.

According to Kadyrov, Chaika will coordinate the work of public organizations “within a framework of humanitarian and socio-economic projects involving the Chechen Republic.”

Artyom (sometimes spelled “Artem”) Chaika is the son of Russia’s former Attorney General Yury Chaika. Having retired from the AG post in January 2020, Yury Chaika became the presidential envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District.

Artyom Chaika and his brother Igor became widely known after the Anti-Corruption Foundation (“FBK”) released its 2015 video-investigation “Chaika.” The film exposed the vast family business headed by Yury Chaika, Russia’s then attorney general, who later called it a hatchet job.

In 2016, the federal registry of deeds, Rosreestr, classified the information about Artyom and Igor Chaika’s real estate, replacing Artyom Chaika’s name with the code “LSDU3,” and Igor Chaika’s with “YFYaU9.” In 2020, their real names were restored to the registry.

In July 2020, Artyom Chaika and his wife Marina Chaika were divorced, following Marina’s release of a video, in which she said that her husband had threatened to take away their children. She was also asking to have her passport back, and to grant her a divorce.

In January 2021, Marina Chaika was abducted by people who introduced themselves as FSB operatives. They questioned her about her family and her former husband’s business. Afterwards, Artyom Chaika withdrew his lawsuit for the custody of his younger daughter.

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