Chechen leader's 16-year-old son named to post in rifle battalion

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov's teenage son has been named as an observer in a new battalion that is part of Russia's defence ministry forces, a senior Chechen official said late on November 28.

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov's 16-year-old son Adam Kadyrov has become the "supervisor" of the Chechen battalion named after Sheikh Mansur, which will become part of the Russian Defense Ministry, Reuters reports.

Ramzan Kadyrov, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, said at the time he was proud of his son and respected Adam for acquiring "adult ideals of honor, dignity and defence of his religion".

On Tuesday, Adam Delimkhanov, who heads the Chechen division of the Russian national guard and is also a member of Russia's parliament, said the young Kadyrov was named a curator, or observer, of a rifle battalion.

Kommersant reports that this was announced by Magomed Daudov, speaker of the Chechen parliament, and Chechen State Duma deputy Adam Delimkhanov.

"This appointment was a natural result of Adam's significant services in upholding the religious, family and cultural values of our people," Delimkhanov, who is seen as Chechnya's second most senior official behind Kadyrov, said on the Telegram messaging app.

The Chechen rifle battalion was created earlier this month, according to Russia's state media. It is now a part of Russia's defence ministry forces.