Analysis | How Kadyrov uses ‘the Path of Akhmat’ in sports to cement his rule in Chechnya

In Chechnya, sport is distinctly political. Whether rubbing shoulders with athletes or sending his sons out into the ring, Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov uses training and competitive sports to bolster his public image, construct a national identity that suits his aims, and secure the future of his regime.  UFC280 fight night was a hotly anticipated event amongst mixed martial arts (MMA) enthusiasts in the Caucasus. The night, organised by the world’s largest MMA promotion company, was headli