PUTIN henchman and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov is “preparing to flee Russia” – as he has put his son in charge of the police.

The notorious head of Chechnya has been actively making arrangements for his own getaway, which has led to tensions with allies of the Kremlin.

This 48-year-old autocrat is an outspoken backer of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and has dispatched tens of thousands of soldiers to aid in the brutal conflict in Ukraine.

He has also been accused of violating human rights, including involvement in kidnapping and torture.

However, the relationship between Putin and Kadyrov has deteriorated recently, particularly following rumored clandestine discussions between Kadyrov and representatives from the Middle East.

Local media reported that the Chechen ruler began “unsanctioned discussions” with officials from several Middle Eastern countries about his assets and family’s future – without Moscow’s approval.

The FSB security service officers informed a “furious” Putin, 72, about Kadyrov’s secret negotiations.

Kadyrov has reportedly already begun transferring assets abroad, with the leader’s family recently acquiring properties in both Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The Chechen leader spoke with “Muslim monarchies” who he has close ties with, according to IStories.

Putin likely sees this as a betrayal, even though Kadyrov sent troops from his private army when the Russian leader faced a coup bid from now-dead Wagner private army chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in June 2023.

After suffering from poor health, Kadyrov is hoping that his son will take over after him.

It is believed that the ruthless Kremlin-ally is suffering from severe kidney and pancreatic issues, as reported by Novaya Gazeta Europe.

But the brutal warlord does not trust that Putin will appoint his son as the next in line to rule Chechnya.

Kadyrov has appointed his 17-year-old son, Adam, as the head of the police, Chechen state media reported on Monday.

Reports said that the teenage boy had been appointed “curator” of the Chechen interior ministry.

Kadyrov has awarded his son multiple medals and appointed the teenager to a succession of posts, building him up as crown prince and heir apparent.

When Adam was aged 16, he was put in charge of his father’s security apparatus and given a leadership role at the Vladimir Putin University of Russian Special Forces, in Chechnya.

Leading investigative journalist Andrey Kalitin said Kadyrov senior’s health is now “very poor” with “tough decisions” over the succession imminent.

Kalitin said: “The Kremlin has two or three candidates.

“Ramzan Kadyrov has one. His name is Adam, he is 17 years old, he has more than 15 awards.”

Even if Putin appointed Adam, he would need a regency-style arrangement until he is 30 under Russian laws.

The boy won his father’s backing after he assaulted a prisoner accused of burning the Quran.

Kadyrov is believed to have amassed a vast fortune as a reward for taming war-riven Chechnya since taking over from his assassinated father.

Accused of human rights abuses, Kadyrov has boasted that he has been sanctioned more than anyone by the West.

Rumours have persisted that a bloated Kadyrov has “serious” pancreatic and kidney problems, with photos being carefully edited and never showing him below the chest.

The notorious leader also has a flashy online presence – last year he flaunted his Tesla with a machine gun bolted to its roof.

The Russian Republic of Chechnya is also known for buying Ukrainian prisoners of war and using them as bargaining chips for their own gain.

They buy captives from Russian military units, and use them in negotiations to swap with Chechen captives, according to RadioFreeEurope.

Kadrov’s republic has also used POWs to get sanctions lifted.

In January 2024 Kadyrov offered to release 20 Ukrainian captives in exchange for the removal of US sanctions against his relatives and horses.

The speculation comes as NATO scrambled fighter jets after Putin unleashed a barrage of nuclear-capable bombers on Ukraine.

Russia struck central Kyiv as well as other location in brutal strikes which included kamikaze drones and ballistic missiles.