Center for European Studies

Social media are frequently celebrated for their democratic, decentralized architecture, means for everyday citizens to express themselves without the regular media filters of more centralized markets. What happens when they become the go-to mode of communication and public relations for political leaders of a more authoritarian bent? The foray into Instagram by Ramzan Kadyrov, the ex-warlord and charismatic leader of the Russian republic of Chechnya, offers a compelling case study for examining just this. Through a detailed analysis of the multimedia project, “Kadyrov on Instagram” provides insight into the protean profile of authority it projects, its contribution to Kadyrov’s growing reputation of one of Russia’s most powerful politicians, and the broader implications of this trend on the potential of new media for promoting civic discourse in Russian politics.