Elkhan Suleymanov, a doctor who served as health minister and deputy premier of Chechnya, has gone missing and is feared to have met a gruesome fate after being accused of attempting to poison a strongman ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Speculation about Suleymanov's disappearance was fueled by his sudden lack of activity on Instagram, with his last post dating back to October 2022.
According to a bombshell report on the Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov is believed to be involved in Suleymanov's alleged murder. Kadyrov reportedly blamed the doctor for his declining health, suspecting that he had been poisoned after receiving unknown injections from Suleymanov, with whom he had previously enjoyed a friendly relationship.
Photos of the two together have resurfaced, showing them in the countryside and at official engagements, seemingly in good spirits.
The report from VChK-OGPU stated that Kadyrov had accused Suleymanov of causing a "sharp deterioration" in his health. Disturbingly, there are rumors circulating that Suleymanov was brutally killed and buried alive. "Absolutely everyone says that he is no longer alive and that he died a painful death," the report claimed.
While some sources suggest that Suleymanov may have sought refuge in his birthplace of Baku, Azerbaijan, or is laying low in Moscow, others speculate that he may have relocated to the Middle East. Concerns for his well-being have grown as his whereabouts remain unknown.
In early July, exiled Chechen opposition politician Tumso Abdurakhmanov revealed that Kadyrov's health had taken a turn for the worse. "Information is coming in that Kadyrov is near death and no longer speaks," Abdurakhmanov shared. "His kidneys have completely failed, and dialysis does not help. It is possible that these are his last days."
An insider who spoke with the Telegram channel shed some light on Suleymanov's professionalism and dedication. "Just a couple of days before his unexpected dismissal, he discussed tests and the causes of Kadyrov's strange illness with doctors from Moscow until late at night," the insider revealed.
"Then he simply disappeared. Later, information about his resignation appeared. All this time, friends were told that he left with his family for Baku, is engaged in science, does not want any publicity, and will not communicate."
The mystery surrounding Suleymanov's disappearance and the allegations against him continue to raise questions about the complex dynamics within Chechnya and the potential consequences of crossing powerful figures like Kadyrov.
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