Kadyrov treats reports about cleansings within his entourage as rumours

Ramzan Kadyrov has declared the information of the "Novaya Gazeta" about detentions and torture of Chechen officials to be false. Amid reports about an attempt to poison him, the head of Chechnya has specified that he is on a sick leave.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 14, the "Novaya Gazeta" reported a "large-scale cleansing" of high-ranking Chechen officials, who were detained and tortured for their disrespectful statements about the head of Chechnya. Djambulat Umarov, a minister, called this information "fake", after which users of social networks found the version about the cleansings believable. Besides, on October 7, the Telegram channel "SKFO Telegraph" announced an attempt to poison Kadyrov. According to the channel, two former Mayors of Chechen cities and a high-ranking law enforcer were suspected of plopping the attempt.

Kadyrov himself expressed indignation at this information. "In Grozny, nobody steps on anyone's feet; there is no robbery and street crime. Thousands of guests admire the beauty of cities and villages, of safety and stability," the TASS quoted him as saying.

He believes that "certain forces and mass media are conducting a targeted campaign to create a negative image of Chechnya and its leadership," the "Interfax" wrote.