Chechnya's Kadyrov given general of the army rank and maroon beret in Grozny
In short
Rosgvardia director Viktor Zolotov presented Chechnya head Ramzan Kadyrov with the epaulettes of a general of the army and a maroon beret at a ceremony in Grozny on 3 October. Zolotov said President Vladimir Putin had issued the decree on the promotion, which moves Kadyrov up from colonel-general to what Meduza, citing Important Stories, describes as de facto the highest rank in the Russian army. Kommersant reported that Kadyrov in turn conferred on Zolotov the title Hero of Chechnya.
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Rosgvardia director Viktor Zolotov presented Chechnya head Ramzan Kadyrov with the epaulettes of a general of the army and a maroon beret at a ceremony in Grozny, Vedomosti, Meduza and Kommersant reported, citing TASS. Zolotov said President Vladimir Putin had issued the decree on the promotion and had instructed him to deliver it, according to the three outlets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
“Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin instructed me today to deliver his decree on conferring on Hero of Russia Colonel-General Kadyrov the next highest military rank — general of the army,” Zolotov said, as quoted by Vedomosti and Kommersant. Zolotov said the maroon beret was awarded in recognition of services in developing special-purpose units and the national guard troops as a whole, Vedomosti and Kommersant reported. Meduza quoted him saying the beret is “the most important symbol” of the troops, tied to a tradition that originated in the national guard's special-purpose forces, whose anniversary was marked three days earlier. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Meduza, citing Important Stories, reported that general of the army is de facto the highest rank in the Russian army, with only the marshal's rank above it, and that no one has been awarded that rank since 1997. Meduza also reported that the maroon beret is considered the highest distinction in Rosgvardia special forces and some other security services, that obtaining it requires passing a series of tests which sometimes end in the death of participants, and that it is not known whether Kadyrov took part in those tests. Kadyrov had worn a maroon beret before, Meduza added. [ 2 ]
Kommersant reported that Kadyrov in turn conferred on Zolotov the title Hero of Chechnya, “for personal services to the Chechen Republic and its people and a significant contribution to protecting the interests of the fatherland.” [ 3 ]
Kadyrov's previous rank was colonel-general, which Kommersant reported he received in November 2022. Vedomosti reported that he received the special rank of major-general of militia in 2009, became a major-general of Rosgvardia in 2020, and was successively promoted to lieutenant-general and colonel-general in 2022. Kommersant reported that Kadyrov was awarded the title Hero of Russia in 2019. [ 1 , 3 ]
Vedomosti reported that on 30 September Putin thanked Kadyrov and his management team for their work in Chechnya and noted the contribution of the republic's residents to strengthening the country and to the special operation. Kommersant reported that sources explained Kadyrov's transfer from the Interior Ministry to Rosgvardia in 2020 by practical logic, and that in December 2022 Zolotov awarded him the medal “For Military Cooperation” during a visit to Grozny. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The ceremony makes a regional leader the holder of a rank that Meduza, citing Important Stories, describes as de facto the highest in the Russian army, with only the marshal's rank above it and that one not awarded since 1997. The maroon beret is a special forces distinction that Meduza says normally requires passing tests, and it reports it is not known whether Kadyrov took part in them. The mutual awards reported by Kommersant point to the ties between Chechnya's leadership and the national guard command.
Key facts
- Rosgvardia director Viktor Zolotov presented Chechnya head Ramzan Kadyrov with the epaulettes of a general of the army and a maroon beret at a ceremony in Grozny. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Zolotov said President Vladimir Putin had issued the decree conferring the rank and had instructed him to deliver it to Kadyrov. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kadyrov's previous rank was colonel-general, which he received in November 2022. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Zolotov said the maroon beret was awarded in recognition of Kadyrov's role in developing special-purpose units and the national guard troops as a whole. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that Kadyrov conferred on Zolotov the title Hero of Chechnya for personal services to the republic and its people. [ 3 ]
- Meduza, citing Important Stories, reported that general of the army is de facto the highest rank in the Russian army and that the marshal's rank above it has not been awarded since 1997. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti reported that on 30 September Putin thanked Kadyrov and his management team for their work in Chechnya and noted residents' contribution to strengthening the country and to the special operation. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Viktor Zolotov presented Ramzan Kadyrov with the epaulettes of a general of the army and a maroon beret at a ceremony in Grozny. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Zolotov said Vladimir Putin had issued the decree promoting Kadyrov to general of the army. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kadyrov's previous military rank was colonel-general, received in November 2022. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Zolotov said the maroon beret was given in recognition of services in developing Rosgvardia special-purpose units and the national guard troops. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Ramzan Kadyrov passed the tests normally required for the maroon beret. Meduza reports it is not known whether Kadyrov took part in those tests, which it says sometimes end in the death of participants; the other documents do not address the question.
- The title Hero of Chechnya conferred on Viktor Zolotov by Kadyrov. Reported only by Kommersant; no other document mentions the award or its wording.
- The exact time the ceremony in Grozny took place. None of the documents give a time for the ceremony; they only carry publication times between 12:54 and 14:33 local time.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Vedomosti reports that Zolotov presented Kadyrov with general of the army epaulettes and a maroon beret at a ceremony in Grozny, citing TASS and Zolotov's statement that Putin instructed him to deliver the decree. [ 1 ]
- Meduza reports the same ceremony and Zolotov's remarks on the decree and the maroon beret, and notes that general of the army is de facto the highest Russian army rank. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reports Putin conferred the rank, Zolotov presented the epaulettes and beret, and Kadyrov awarded Zolotov the title Hero of Chechnya. [ 3 ]