State Department draws attention to travel of American athletes to Chechnya

After the trip of American UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighters to Chechnya, the US State Department has reminded US citizens that they are not recommended to visit the territory of Russia.

Justin Gaethje, Kamar Usman and Henry Cejudo visited Chechnya in November. The athletes met the sons of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, and visited the military training ground of the Russian Special Forces University, where they were allowed to fire machine guns and a grenade launcher.

The press service of the State Department has recalled that US citizens are advised to avoid visits to Russia, the "Kavkaz.Realii"* project writes. The special operation in Ukraine and the persecution of US citizens by Russian security agents were named among the negative factors.

Presumably, the fighters Gaethje, Usman and Cejudo were guests of honour at the birthday party of a Kadyrov's son, the "Sports.ru" has written.

Let us remind you that sanctions have been imposed against Kadyrov, and several of his relatives and close associates. Back in December 2017, the US Treasury added Kadyrov to the Magnitsky sanctions list by treating him responsible for extrajudicial executions, torture and other human rights violations in Chechnya. In September this year, the United States tightened the sanctions against Kadyrov by extending them onto his relatives – his wife Medni and three daughters, as well as on Fatima Khazueva and Aminad Akhmadova, who were named as Kadyrov's wives.