Chechnya's leader says he's ready to resign
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov says he's ready to step down.
Kadyrov said in a rare interview aired Monday morning that it is his "dream" to step down because he finds the responsibility of leading the Russian region to be too heavy.
Kremlin-backed Kadyrov, a former rebel who switched his loyalties to Moscow, has been the dominant figure in Chechnya since the 2004 assassination of his father, President Akhmad Kadyrov.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The son came under pressure earlier this year when widespread reports of a broad crackdown on gay people in Chechnya surfaced.
Kadyrov has previously spoken about wanting to resign but never followed through. His public statements have been widely seen as part of a power play with the Kremlin for privileges and extra funding for his region.