Ukraine war: – – People are personally tortured

– All his power depends on the agreement with Putin.

This is what Aage Borchgrevink, a consultant with the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, told Dagbladet.

He is talking about Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov. Kadyrov is the acting leader of Russia’s Chechnya, and was recently promoted to lieutenant-general in the Russian army for his role in the invasion of Ukraine, according to a major British newspaper. Watchman.

according to The great Norwegian encyclopedia Kadyrov supported “honor killings against women” of “bad morals” and “stated that women belong to men and that their main task is procreation.”

His reputation earned him the nickname “Putin’s attacking dog,” he says Politico. Borschgrevink wrote “Sadist and Murderer” Twitter.

“The Butcher of Mariupol”

– an experienced torturer

In connection with his work on the Helsinki Committee, Borschgrevink interviewed four people who claimed to have been tortured by Kadyrov personally – as well as someone who claims to have been in the room while Kadyrov was torturing a third person.

– I had great confidence in the descriptions I received, and there were also many witnesses who could confirm this in various ways. I would say this is solid information, he says to Dagbladet.

Some of the stories date back to the 21st century, others are from more recent history – from Kadyrov’s reign as the leader of the Chechen Republic.

– They describe it as obviously good to torture people. to inflict pain on them. It’s something he’s used to.

Blows and torture with electric shocks were repeated in the descriptions, according to Borschgrevink.

– This is an integral part of what can be called the activity of the Chechen police. Torture is widespread in Chechnya, often extremely brutal. There is also the rape of things.

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– Children of war

Borschgrevink describes Kadyrov as a “war child”.

– In the mid-90s, when he was 17 years old, he went to fight in the first Chechen war – against Russia, for the independence of Chechnya. It was a very brutal war, and it definitely affected him in many ways.

During the second Chechen war, from 1999 to 2000, Akhmad Kadyrov – Ramzan Kadyrov’s father – sided with Russia.

Both wars were marked by the Russians’ bombing of the civilian population with utter cruelty, as well as a lot of torture, disappearances, and other war crimes.

He stresses that it is a hallmark of the Russian war.

All advanced armies commit war crimes in war. But most people have control mechanisms and rules to limit it, and to some extent punish those who perpetrate it.

This is not the case in the Russian army, according to Borschgrevink

In Russian military doctrine, civilians are a means that can be used in war. It is now seen in Ukraine, and then seen in Chechnya. It was also seen in Syria, he said, and continues:

– This is what differs from the Russians as a modern army: they do not respect international law. They use terrorism against civilians as a means to coerce the population and suppress resistance.

– blow up

The main problem for the Russians during the second Chechen war, according to Borschgrevink, was that they could not overcome the Chechen guerrilla movements.

– After the end of the major military phase in 2000, these groups continued. Many Russian soldiers died. Then Putin changed his strategy. “Chechen” wanted conflict, established a local system on the basis of the Kadyrov family.

First, Mufti Akhmad Kadyrov was installed as the leader of the republic.

– But it was blown up and killed, says Borchgrevink.

This happened during the celebration of a Russian military parade in the Chechen capital Grozny in 2004.

Since then, Ramadan has been the leader of Chechnya – first de factoand later also as an elected representative.

Porschegriffink depends on it.

– Or so, no elect. The elections in Chechnya are just plain silly, often with 99 percent support for Putin’s party.

He must have traveled to Ukraine

– He was going to die

Borschgrevink emphasizes that everything in power Ramzan Kadyrov depends on this family agreement with Putin.

– There are no operating institutions. There is torture, and all possible violations of Russian law and constitution happen all the time. But no one cares. It’s all about Kadyrov’s appointment as president, and he’s responsible for maintaining control of the republic.

In return, he gets money and freedoms from Putin.

– Had it not been for budget transfers from Moscow, he would have died. I think people hate him.

Thus, Kadyrov exercises his power at the mercy of Putin.

– I think that if Putin had felt that it became a requirement with Kadyrov, he would have removed, killed, or at least reduced his budgets. As much as Putin seems to “grab him by the ear”, I think it’s a game in the show.

The Russian forces invaded their colonel

– clever and clever

But Kadyrov is not just a violent man.

– I think he has talent. Just surviving all these years, in a very brutal part of Russia, is rather impressive. You can’t do that if you’re just “strong and stupid”.

Although the mainstay of the Kadyrov regime is Putin and his money, Kadyrov’s job is to manage it.

– He must create alliances and build clans. I did it. You shouldn’t peek at it. A number is often specified that he has no education, and that he speaks a little childish Russian. But this does not mean that he is not a very skilled and cunning leader.

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I played with Maradona

Borschgrevink believes that Kadyrov is also planting a well-equipped propaganda machine.

— Especially when it comes to sports washing, he says.

In 2011, Diego Maradona and many former stars of football teams such as Liverpool and Real Madrid – including Steve McManaman and Franco Barez – visited the Chechen capital.

They took part in an exhibition match against a team consisting of Chechen and Russian football players led by Kadyrov himself.

Watchman He described the incident as an attempt to prove that “the Kadyrov Republic has turned into a province of its own, finally recovering from the horrors of war.”

During the match, Kadyrov scored three goals, according to Reuters news agencyBeating Maradona’s team 5-2.

In 2018, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was granted “honorary citizenship” in Chechnya, according to what was reported Watchman – And in 2013, Steven Seagal visited Kadyrov as a guest star in the heavyweight action movie and martial artist Steven Seagal. Washington Post.

Boxing legend Mike Tyson did the same in 2005, a year before Kadyrov became prime minister BBC.

— That’s a big part of building his brand, says Borschgrevink.

French actor Gerard Depardieu also visited Kadyrov in his home country — and after receiving a Russian passport from Putin in early 2013, according to BBC.

Shortly thereafter, he announced his plans to record a film in Chechnya Reuters – He swung the traditional Russian Lezginka dance with Kadyrov in a televised clip.

– Capture a hostage

Borchgrivink believes that neither Putin nor Kadyrov will be able to control the ripple effects of the war in Ukraine.

It is clear that Kadyrov is now under pressure to provide Ukraine with cannon fodder. We have a lot of reports of how people are forcibly conscripted for military service.

According to Borchgrevink, this is happening “the way things are in Chechnya.”

– If you don’t sign you will be arrested. Your family is arrested, you may lose your job. Using families as hostages is a tactic also used against everything critics criticize.

Putin’s dog

– He could be a scapegoat

On the other hand, Chechen exiles are recruiting all over Europe to fight on the Ukrainian side, according to Borschgrevink.

– They leave voluntarily while part of Putin’s forces are forcibly recruited. For the first time in 20 years, independence has become a whisper among Chechens. What they believe and hope for is that Putin will be killed from this – and then Kadyrov will fall too. Therefore, this is also an important war for Chechnya.

He believes another possible outcome is that Putin remains in power, but throws Kadyrov out from under the bus.

I think there will be a great need for a scapegoat in the end. Kadyrov could quickly become one of them. But it won’t be entirely risk-free for Putin. He invested a lot in Kadyrov personally. No parliament will take power in Chechnya if Kadyrov disappears – then there will be fighting and a power vacuum, Borschgrevink says – and concludes:

It is not easy at all to be a dictator. It’s much more difficult than people think.