Kadyrov, a 41-year-old father of 12 whose interests vary from thoroughbred horses to wrestling and boxing, has been accused by human rights bodies of arbitrary arrests and torture of opponents, zero tolerance of sexual minorities and tough political declarations that have embarrassed the Kremlin.
Ramzan Kadyrov, the outspoken leader of Russia's Chechnya republic, said he was ready to step down, leaving it for the Kremlin to choose his successor.
A former Islamist rebel who had led Chechnya since 2007, he was endorsed by President Vladimir Putin in March last year to carry on in the job, while being warned that Russian law must be strictly enforced in the majority-Muslim region.
Kadyrov's unexpected statement comes as Putin, is widely expected to announce he will run for his fourth term as president in elections due in March 2018.
Describing Putin as his "idol", Kadyrov said in the interview: "I am ready to die for him, to fulfil any order."
The move could be seen as ordering the apperance of the Putin's administration in the eyes of people. It shall be remembered that there are increasing allegations against Kadyrov on Humanaritian and sexual abuses.
