Rumours about the health of Ramzan Kadyrov, the ruler of the Chechen Republic, have flared up again in Russia following a media report that he is suffering from an incurable pancreatic disease.
The exiled newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on Monday about the health of Kadyrov, who is loyal to the Kremlin and known for his brutal treatment of dissidents.
Kadyrov's power apparatus, which denied similar rumours a few months ago, initially made no official comment on the latest media report.
But the usually well-informed newspaper wrote that "the state of health of 47-year-old Ramzan Kadyrov leaves no hope of recovery. And Moscow must now decide operationally how to maintain stability when the tough Chechen dictator is no more."
The newspaper, which was founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov, referred to sources close to Kadyrov as well as doctors in the Russian presidential administration's hospital.
The Chechen leader is said to have been treated there last autumn. It was at this time that strong rumours about his serious illness first emerged - fuelled by long absences from public life and visible problems during his rare appearances.
The speculation was officially denied at the time. His long stay in hospital in Moscow was disguised as a sick visit to an uncle, Novaya Gazeta is now reporting. Journalists are now convinced that Kadyrov was the patient.
Meanwhile, a video was published on Kadyrov's Telegram channel on Monday showing him at a meeting of the regional government in Chechnya's capital Grozny.
The recording is unlikely to dispel speculation about the politician's state of health. The Chechen ruler, who is accused of the most serious human rights violations, sits almost motionless at the table and speaks only slowly and apparently with difficulty.