Kadyrov's teenage son given traffic safety medal despite driving offences

Adam Kadyrov

The 18-year-old son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been awarded a prestigious traffic police medal, weeks after posting footage of himself committing serious road violations.

Adam Kadyrov, who serves as the head of Chechnya’s Security Council, received the commemorative jubilee medal marking the 90th anniversary of Russia's traffic police during a ceremony in Grozny on 3 July.

The award has drawn scrutiny from independent media, which have repeatedly linked the teenager to a string of traffic offences and fatal road accidents.

Writing on his Telegram channel, Ramzan Kadyrov announced that both he and his son had received the medal at a ceremony attended by regional officials and interior ministry representatives.

The Chechen leader did not specify the grounds on which they were nominated, adding that no other attendees received the medal.

The award ceremony follows a series of public controversies involving the teenager's driving.

In June, Adam Kadyrov published a video on social media showing himself driving a car at 112km/h (70mph) in a built-up area.

The footage showed him crossing double solid white lines into oncoming traffic, using a mobile phone, and driving without a seatbelt.

The teenager was involved in a severe car crash in Grozny.

Sources claimed the collision left the driver of the other vehicle dead and resulted in Adam Kadyrov undergoing surgery to remove his spleen.

Chechen authorities denied the incident took place, with Ramzan Kadyrov dismissing the reports as disinformation.

"You can fool anyone with the help of artificial intelligence," Kadyrov said at the time, arguing that the story had been fabricated to target his family.

Local opposition groups have also accused the teenager of being involved in a fatal 2022 hit-and-run when he was 15, alleging that his security guards attempted to cover up the incident.

Despite his young age, Adam Kadyrov has been rapidly promoted through Chechnya's state apparatus and is widely seen as his father's preferred successor.

In early 2025, he was appointed to oversee the regional branch of the Russian interior ministry, before being named head of the republic's Security Council later that year.

In June 2026, he was awarded his second "Hero of Chechnya" star.

The teenager first gained international notoriety in 2023, when a video emerged of him beating Nikita Zhuravel, a prisoner held in Grozny for allegedly burning the Quran.

His father publicly praised his actions at the time, and no charges were brought against the teenager.