Russian state television channel deletes Chechen beauty pageant newsreel featuring Kadyrov’s ‘second wife’
The Russian state television channel Perviy Kanal (Channel One) has removed a 2006 news report from its website about a beauty pageant in Chechnya, which included footage of Fatima Khazuyeva, the alleged second wife of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
The video’s removal was reported by the Russian investigative outlet Proket, which, on April 7, published an investigation into the Chechen leader’s multiple wives and their wealth (the investigation is available in English here). According to Proket, Perviy Kanal’s newsreel is the only known footage where Fatima Khazuyeva is shown.
Attempts to access the webpage, which previously hosted Perviy Kanal’s report titled, “A Beauty Queen was Chosen in Chechnya,” prompts an error message, and the most recent available web copy is dated 2017.
“The deleted report showed the humble family life of 14-year-old Fatima at that time. Her father also appeared in it. [...] It’s unlikely that the report was deleted by accident, because 15 years ago, the television crew prepared four materials about the contest, but only the one in which Khuzayeva appears was cut out. The three reports with the other contestants are still available,” Proekt writes.
According to Proekt’s investigation, Fatima Khuzayeva owns several apartments in Moscow, as well as a mansion in Grozny, located not far from Ramzan Kady’s working residence. The investigation also revealed that Kadyrov’s first wife, Medni Kadyrova, has several Moscow properties registered to her under a fake passport. The total value of Kadyrov’s two wives’ real estate is nearly 800 million rubles (about $10 million by today’s exchange rate), according to Proket’s estimates.
Meduza survived 2024 thanks to its readers!
Let’s stick together for 2025.
The world is at a crossroads today, and quality journalism will help shape the decades to come. The real stories must be told at any cost. Please support Meduza by signing up for a recurring donation.