Kadyrov continues Stalinist tradition of criticizing those released from captivity

Ramzan Kadyrov’s statement about the need to return to the front line for Chechen fighters released from the Ukrainian captivity are aimed at preventing surrendering of fighters and fit into the Stalinist traditions, when captivity was considered a disgrace, human rights defenders point out.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on April 15, the leader of Chechnya announced that five Chechen fighters earlier captured by the Ukrainian armed forces returned to Grozny. At the same time, Ramzan Kadyrov refused to meet them, condemned them for surrendering, and offered to go back to the combat zone.

According to human rights defender Oyub Titiev, the accusation of cowardice among the prisoners of war, which can be perceived in the Ramzan Kadyrov’s words, is a reflection of the intention to prevent surrendering of fighters.

Such an attitude fits into the Stalinist tradition of treating those who have surrendered to the enemy, notes Svetlana Gannushkina*, the chair of the “Civic Assistance Committee”*. The human rights defender fears that natives of Chechnya who have returned from the Ukrainian captivity may face new difficulties, since the Ramzan Kadyrov’s words suggested finding out how the fighters had been captured at all.

The phrase of “this is also my fault” about the capture of fighters from of the “Sever-Akhmat” regiment is a rare confession for Ramzan Kadyrov, believes PR specialist Alexander Likhtman.

Ramzan Kadyrov’s participation in the exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) looks like it was agreed with the Kremlin, and the leader of Chechnya is expected to use the above role as a PR step, analysts point out.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.