Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov 'gives boxing lesson'

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has boasted on the internet that he has taught his sports minister a lesson in the boxing ring.

He said it came after he noticed that the sports ministry building in the capital Grozny was badly in need of repair.

Mr Kadyrov joked that he had decided to rectify the minister's behaviour with a boxing lesson.

Mr Kadyrov, who has ruled Chechnya since 2005, is an experienced boxer.

He also heads the Chechen Boxing Federation.

Mr Kadyrov told his followers on photo-sharing website Instagram that "in the course of this dialogue - or rather sparring", he "gently and unobtrusively" explained to the minister, Salambek Ismailov, "with the help of the right and then the left hook" that he should start "using his head".

The text is accompanied by photographs of Mr Kadyrov's "lesson".

"Since the minister started correcting mistakes straightaway, I allowed him to put a helmet on. After all, tomorrow he has to report to work," Mr Kadyrov added.

The Chechen leader's spokesman, Alvi Karimov, told BBC Russian that Mr Kadyrov's message about the so-called lesson to Mr Ismailov was intended as a joke for "people with a healthy sense of humour".

And it is apparent that Mr Kadyrov intends to carry on "joking".

One of those present during his boxing bout with the sports minister was Labour Minister Magomet Akhmadov, Mr Kadyrov said on his Instagram account.

Whether Mr Akhmadov was going to be punished with a lesson in the boxing ring would be decided after the next cabinet meeting, Mr Kadyrov added.

Last month, Mr Kadyrov apologised after shouting insults over a loudspeaker at a referee who had sent off a player from his Terek Grozny side during a Russian League match.