Chalaev awarded "Hero of Russia" despite data about his involvement in human rights violations

President Putin has awarded the title of "Hero of Russia" to Zamid Chalaev, the commander of the Akhmat Kadyrov regiment, whose involvement in gross violations of human rights in Chechnya was claimed by Caucasian experts and journalists from the "Novaya Gazeta" newspaper.

On May 9, Ramzan Kadyrov announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree conferring the title of "Hero of Russia" on Zamid Chalaev.

Within the past 18 months, Chalaev figured in three resonant human rights violations.

In December 2019, Zamid Chalaev announced to his subordinates that all the offenders, including those who violate Ramzan Kadyrov's bans, should be treated as "traitors."

Chalaev's words about "traitors" contradicted both to norms of Islam and Russian legislation; while his statement was an illustration of the legal nihilism dominating the republic, the Caucasian scholars and human rights defenders interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

In September 2020, Zamid Chalaev pronounced threats against those who "are holding empty talks" and spoke out against the critics of the Chechen authorities living in Europe. This statement was preceded by the publication of a video of humiliating Salman Tepsurkaev, which caused a broad resonance.

In March 2021, the regiment commanded by Chalaev found itself in the centre of a scandal after the "Novaya Gazeta" published a story of Suleiman Gezmakhmaev, a former regiment fighter, who witnessed extrajudicial executions in Chechnya.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 9, 2021 at 04:12 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.