Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov says he’s never hidden the fact that he received a degree neither for scientific discoveries nor from the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Instead, the Chechen strongman says he was peer pressured into accepting his qualifications from the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (RANS).
“10 years ago, when I held the post of first deputy prime minister [of Chechnya], I was told that RANS, which is a non-governmental organization, had decided to award me with an ‘honorary degree.’ I left it for a few months, not agreeing to take the title or the diploma. I was then persuaded by close friends, who pointed out it was unethical to refuse it,” Kadyrov said on his instagram account.
RANS Vice President Alexander Lagutkin awarded the degree for achievements in peacekeeping and providing stability in the Chechen Republic. RANS authorities never said the degree was for scientific work, said Kadyrov.
RANS President Oleg Kuznetsov said the degree was awarded to the head of the Chechen Republic “for the day-in-day-out work of saving the lives of soldiers and residents of Chechnya.”
Kadyrov also cited the fact British Royal Prince Charles, former UN Secretary General Boutros Ghali, and many others are honorary fellows of RANS, whose awards have no relation to scientific discoveries or inventions.
“For me, the best doctoral thesis is a restored and rebuilt Chechnya” said Kadyrov.
The Chechen leader has previously said he has “declined honorary degrees from dozens of colleges.”
In 2014 however, Kadyrov—a former Islamist-warlord-turned-Kremlin-loyalist—accepted the honorary title of “professor” at an Islamic theological university that he had ordered to be built.
Kadyrov is also a “hero of Russia,” recipient of the Akhmad Kadyrov Award (named after his father, who was the first Chechen president), a “guardian of the relics of the Prophet Muhammad,” the honorary president of the Terek Grozny football club, and also an honorary member of Putin’s favorite biker gang, the Night Wolves.