The president of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, congratulated Police Colonel General Ruslan Alkhanov on his recent appointment as Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for Combating Extremism within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Alkhanov has led Chechnya’s Ministry of Internal Affairs since 2004, and this new position places him at the helm of a key national effort to counter extremism across the federation. The message from Kadyrov appeared on the leader’s Telegram channel, where he expressed his pleasure at Alkhanov winning this senior role and referred to him as a trusted brother within the security team that has long safeguarded the republic. The Chechen leadership has consistently praised Alkhanov for his long service and the crucial contributions he has made to counterterrorism efforts in the region, including his work on international terrorism and the protection of high-risk targets.
The North Caucasus-tier Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the appointment on September 6, with Sergei Bachurin, head of the Main Directorate, noting Alkhanov’s enduring impact on reducing crime in Chechnya and his role in strengthening law and order during his tenure as the republic’s interior minister. His career in internal affairs began in 1991, and early on he served as a police-OMON officer within the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 2000, he led the security detail for the head of Chechnya’s administration, and from 2000 to 2003 he commanded a specialized unit focused on high-level protection for authorities and government institutions. This background helped shape his later leadership at the regional level.
Alkhanov was named head of the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs in December 2004. He earned a degree from the Business Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in 2007 and later received a Doctor of Laws degree. In May 2022, the President elevated him to the rank of Police Colonel. Over the years, Alkhanov’s career has intertwined with Chechnya’s security framework and with Russia’s broader efforts to combat extremism and organized crime across the North Caucasus.
Meanwhile, Ramzan Kadyrov has signaled a commitment to accountability and justice, indicating that those responsible for the attack on journalist Milashina will be identified and held to account. The statements reflect a broader insistence on security and stability within the Chechen Republic and the surrounding region, consistent with the leadership’s public focus on safeguarding journalists, officials, and citizens alike.