Former MP explains running next to Adam Kadyrov’s car

In response to criticism for running next to Adam Kadyrov’s car, former MP from Smolensk Maxim Baranov has explained that his goal was to highlight on social networking services the passing of standards for receiving maroon berets.

Maxim Baranov, a former member of the Smolensk City Council, who ran next to a pickup truck of Adam Kadyrov, a 17-year-old son of the leader of Chechnya, during a forced march to pass the standards for receiving a maroon beret (a uniform headdress that serves as the highest form of distinction for military personnel of the special forces units of the internal troops and that is awarded after passing very difficult tests aimed at identifying military personnel with the highest level of professional training) told the “Gazeta.Ru” publication that he wanted to cover the distance faster.

I did not run behind Adam Kadyrov’s car, but next to it

“Let’s start with the fact that I did not run behind the Adam Kadyrov’s car, but next to it. I took on the function, as during previous tests for the maroon beret, of covering this event on my pages in social networking services,” the “Gazeta.Ru” publication quotes Maxim Baranov as stating today.

Maxim Baranov noted that he “continued to run at a comfortable pace,” and Adam Kadyrov “drove calmly.” “We came together at the poles of speed for the duration of our conversation, and that’s it,” Maxim Baranov stated.

I have a strong immunity to criticism

Maxim Baranov has emphasized that he is not embarrassed by the criticism of the video. “I have a strong immunity to criticism. I welcome adequate and reasonable criticism, not dirty and mocking criticism. By the way, I have my favourite phrase on the subject: if you want to avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nobody,” the former member of the Smolensk City Council explained.

On May 17, Maxim Baranov, who “went to the front line” in the autumn, published a video of himself running next to a pickup truck driven by Adam Kadyrov, the “Gazeta.Ru” publication explained.

In the video, Maxim Baranov, who is running, shakes Adam Kadyrov’s hand on the go, addresses him by his first name and patronymic, and asks if Kadyrov Jr. is planning to apply for the maroon beret himself. Adam Kadyrov replies that he will think about it. The video ends with footage of a column of pickup trucks, led by the Adam Kadyrov’s car.

In their comments under the Maxim Baranov’s post, social media users criticized his behaviour, considering it humiliating. “The whole of Telegram is laughing at you today. Are you aware of that?” wrote, in particular, user Vlad. “Maxim, aren’t you ashamed to run on tiptoes in front of the 17-year-old kid? Where is your male honour?” asked user Russkii 1648.

The comments posted on behalf of Maxim Baranov contain counter-reproaches. “People like you [comparison with an animal] can only write comments in the Telegram troops and betray their Motherland!” one of the comments, in particular, claims.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 19 2025 at 05:55 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

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