Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has said that the time has come for him to step down.
"At present, to prevent them using me, my name against my people, I think the leadership of our state should find someone else (...) My time has come. Everyone has their limits," Kadyrov told the NTV channel on Feb. 27.
"Honestly, I have been doing some business and I have been successful. Well, I was. Until today," Kadyrov said.
When asked about his possible successors, the Chechen leader said: "We have very many successors in our team. There are very good specialists."
He also dismissed a conjecture that he might be transferred to Moscow to work as a government minister. "I don't belong there. Being a minister - I don't understand that," Kadyrov said.
He said he is going to pursue his personal interests in future. "Family, private life, studying Islam - this is where I rather see myself. Should it become necessary to take a spade, a gun, a backpack - I am always ready," Kadyrov said.
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