April 28, 2026

Serbia Revokes Citizenship for Kadyrov's Nephew, Citing 'Danger to People's Lives'

Yakub Zakriev, photo: social media. The Serbian government has revoked the decision to grant citizenship to Yakub Zakriev, the nephew of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. This was reported by the publication Nedeljnik, citing a document. When Zakriev was granted citizenship. The Serbian government granted citizenship to Zakriev following a meeting on April 23. The republic's cabinet cited a law stating that a foreigner of interest to Serbia can be granted citizenship. Serbian authorities did not explain what specific interest Zakriev represented. Why the decision was revoked. The decision to revoke citizenship stated that Zakriev 'poses a danger to the life and health of people, and public safety.' Who Zakriev is. Yakub Zakriev is the son of Ramzan Kadyrov's full sister. He previously headed the administration of the head and government of Chechnya. He was also the mayor of Grozny and the head of the republican Ministry of Agriculture. After the nationalization of the Danone company, Yakub Zakriev was appointed its new CEO. The company is now called 'Logic of Milk.' Another associate of Kadyrov also received Serbian citizenship. Earlier, 'Important Stories' and the publication Krik found out that in 2024, another associate of Kadyrov received Serbian citizenship – former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and ex-Vice Mayor of Grozny Ruslan Alisultanov, as well as his four children. Alisultanov is connected with Zakriev through the former Danone company. What does the arrest of journalist Oleg Roldugin have to do with it? 'Novaya Gazeta' columnist Oleg Roldugin previously found out that thanks to the assets acquired in the former Danone, Alisultanov purchased one of the most expensive apartments in Russia – a penthouse in the elite residential complex 'Residence 1864' near the Kremlin. Its area is about 1700 sq. m., and its cost exceeds three billion rubles. Journalists from the Explainer project claim that Roldugin was arrested precisely because of the article about Alisultanov. According to a source, 'investigators are frantically trying to figure out how to charge the journalist without betraying Kadyrov's associates.'