10 May 2004 18:08
Russian journalist says slain Chechen president`s son "extremely cruel"
Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya has alleged that Ramzan Kadyrov, son of the slain Chechen President Akhmat
Kadyrov and newly appointed deputy leader of Chechnya, abused his father's political opponents in the run-up to the
presidential poll in Chechnya on 5 October 2003. She said this on 10 May to Russian Ekho Moskvy radio: "He is an
extremely cruel man. His chief of staff used to be one of the most cruel men among the militants led by (Chechen warlord
Shamil) Basayev before switching sides after an amnesty.
I have met several people who told me that Ramzan Kadyrov personally tortured them in his home in the village of
Tsentoroy. These people were associated with other candidates for the presidency during the presidential campaign, that
is to say, in August-September of last year (2003). And they said that Ramzan Kadyrov and that other man with him
(presumably the chief of staff) used very elaborate torture. For example, they would peel narrow strips of skin off a
person's back.
This is the sort of torture you would call medieval brutality. That is perhaps the best characterization of the kind
of person he is, if he is to be judged by his deeds.
Also, in the same village of Tsentoroy, which has now been turned into a sort of fortress, orgies are known to take
place after torture. I have personally been told about this too."
[Ekho Moskvy radio] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
