Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Russian region of Chechnya, has announced his intention to take an “indefinite and long” break from his post. In a message on his Telegram account, Kadyrov, who has ruled Chechnya with an iron fist since 2007 and is the longest-serving leader in a Russian region, said he “realized he had been sitting in my position for a long time” and “I think my time has come (to leave power, ed)”. It is not clear, the Russian media reporting the news, what Kadyrov, who is believed to have close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, will do. Under his rule, Chechnya has been accused of massive human rights violations, particularly against gays. Kadyrov had previously evoked a possible step back as Chechnya’s leader and then remained in his place. “I’m skeptical. In the past he said the same things,” commented Caucasus expert Ivan Klyszcz, quoted by Radio Free Europe. “Usually these statements come when he wants to get something from Putin, at least a public expression of support,” added the expert. According to other analysts, the timing of this statement, which took place in the midst of the largest war in Europe after World War II is at least unusual. Anton Barbashin, editorial director of the analysis site Riddle Russia, called the timing “peculiar”. “If what Kadyrov just said is true and he voluntarily withdraws, it would be unprecedented. Something literally no one expected,” he said on Twitter.