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Ramzan Kadyrov’s cousin owns a luxury villa in Dubai that serves as an ‘unofficial Chechen embassy’ — iStories

Source: Meduza

In December 2022, Ramzan Kadyrov’s cousin, Shahruddi Edilgiriev, bought a villa in Dubai that Kadyrov has used to host meetings with celebrities and other high-profile guests, according to a new investigation by the outlet iStories. The villa — 1,026 square meters, or 11,044 square feet — is located inside the Zabeel Saray hotel complex on the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah. The property’s estimated value is $14.4 million.

According to journalists from Ukrainska Pravda, Kadyrov started using the villa as an “unofficial Chechen embassy” in 2014, well before his cousin acquired the property. For example, in 2017, he hosted boxer Mike Tyson and met with several local businessmen. The villa has also opened its doors to Kadyrov’s representative in Arab and Muslim countries, traveling agents in Kadyrov’s security entourage, and another cousin who, according to the Royal United Services Institute, has lobbied Middle Eastern countries to reject Western-led sanctions against Russia.

According to leaked Dubai real estate data, Edilgiriev bought three more local villas in October 2023 worth roughly $6 million.

Journalists at iStories and Der Spiegel report that Edilgiriev’s mother and siblings enjoy close ties to Chechnya’s leader; some have held positions in the Chechen government.