08:26, 2 October 2020

Kadyrov's nomination for humanitarian award treated as inappropriate promotion

Ramzan Kadyrov. Photo: REUTERS/Said Tsarnayev

Social network users are sceptical about the news circulated by the Chechen mass media about Ramzan Kadyrov's nomination for the International Peace Prize, recalling the recent resonant humiliation of Salman Tepsurkaev. Kadyrov's nomination for the Prize with such a name is ridiculous; and the only aim of this step is his promotion, the human rights activists interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

Ramzan Kadyrov has become a nominee for the 2020 International Peace Prize established by the Institute for Peace and Development (INSPAD), Chechen mass media have announced.

The Executive Committee of the European Muslim Forum, which represents the interests of the Muslim population in countries of Europe, has nominated Ramzan Kadyrov for the Prize for "a special contribution to the development of interfaith relations," the "Grozny" ChGTRK (Chechen State TV and Radio Company) said on September 29.

Some social network users have expressed bewilderment at the initiative, recalling the Chechen leader's abuse of Salman Tepsurkaev.

"What for?" the user don_t_worry_420 was surprised. "How what for? For the fact that they sit guys on bottles; they love all sorts of perverts there," the user mans.st.94 has answered.

On September 7, in Chechnya, and then beyond the republic, a wide public outcry was provoked by a video in which a naked man, who introduced himself as Salman Tepsurkaev, was sitting on a bottle with explanations that he was doing that as punishment for his cooperation with the opposition "1ADAT" Telegram channel. The channel's authors are sure that the moderator of their chat, Salman Tepsurkaev, was kidnapped and publicly humiliated by the Chechen law enforcers.

Kadyrov's nomination for the Prize is a political step, in which his administration is involved, says Ruslan Kutaev, President of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations.

"This is not a result of some specific Kadyrov's actions, but a political move. Russia was isolated from the entire civilized world, but it's necessary to maintain the status of a great power at least inside the country. And such actions are invented: nomination is like a blank shot, it should be loud, but useless," Mr Kutaev has stated, noting that he had never heard earlier about the International Peace Prize or the Institute for Peace and Development (INSPAD).

Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the "Civil Assistance" Committee, believes that the decision to nominate Kadyrov was dictated by political reasons, and not by any humanitarian merits of the Chechen leader.

She is sure that it is absurd to nominate Kadyrov for such a Prize. "What kind of peace can there be? Kadyrov is a person who admits human rights violations in his republic. Both his statements, and his actions violate human rights," the human rights defender has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 1, 2020 at 09:44 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: CK correspondents