Ramzan Kadyrov, the authoritarian leader of Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya, has backed away from recent comments he made about possibly stepping down, saying he now aims to break the record for holding the post of regional leader -- 27 years.
Kadyrov wrote on Telegram late on September 5 that a statement he made two days earlier on his possible resignation was made "to check your opinion."
The 45-year-old Kadyrov has ruled Chechnya with an iron fist since 2007 and is currently the longest-serving leader of a Russian region.
On September 3, Kadyrov wrote that after 15 years as a regional leader in Russia, "my time has come."
However, in his latest Telegram post, Kadyrov wrote that he learned that an unnamed Russian politician served as a regional leader for 27 years, so he "decided to beat that record."
"We will see if I can overtake that," Kadyrov wrote, adding that he has "no right" to leave the post now.
Russian and international human rights groups have for years accused Kadyrov of overseeing grave human rights abuses including abductions, torture, extrajudicial killings, including killings of his opponents living abroad, and the persecution of the LGBT community.
Kremlin critics say President Vladimir Putin has turned a blind eye to the abuses and violations carried out by Kadyrov because he relies on the former rebel commander to control separatist sentiment and violence in Chechnya.
Kadyrov has also played an important role in promoting Russia's war in Ukraine and has recruited people to fight alongside Russian troops, who reportedly have suffered heavy losses in the war.
He wrote in his latest post on Telegram that with Russia "fighting the world's satanism" in Ukraine's eastern region of Donbas, "neither regional leaders nor military personnel of all ranks" can leave their posts.
Kadyrov has made comments in the past over leaving his post, but has never taken any steps to depart, raising questions over whether his unexpected announcement was a ploy.