Kadyrov's nephew has been granted Serbian citizenship
Yakub Zakriev, the nephew of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, has been granted Serbian citizenship. The relevant decree was signed by the country’s Prime Minister, Juro Matsut.
This was reported by the Serbian magazine Nedeljnic.
According to Serbian media, the passport was granted “in the interests” of Serbia, though Zakriev’s specific contributions to the state have not been disclosed.
Yakub Zakriev is the son of Ramzan Kadyrov’s sister. He previously headed the Grozny City Hall and the Chechen Ministry of Agriculture, and in 2023 became CEO of the nationalized company “Danone Russia.”
After the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, representatives of the Russian elite began actively obtaining Serbian citizenship. This practice allows them to travel visa-free to European Union countries.
Formally, citizenship is granted “for special merits,” which does not require renouncing a Russian passport, knowledge of the language, or residence in Serbia.
Earlier, another official close to Kadyrov—Ruslan Alisultanov, who served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Mayor of Grozny—received a Serbian passport.
According to journalists, the new Serbian citizens also include representatives of defense companies, state corporations, regional officials, and even one FSB employee.
Earlier, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov received a new award—an order for his contribution to the development of Russia’s cement industry. This is yet another honor in his extensive collection, which has long raised questions due to its diversity.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov received a medal “For Contribution to the Development of Science.”
