Rights defenders: Chechnya develops MMA to promote Kadyrov's regime

When commenting on the interview of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to journalist David Scott, rights defenders Svetlana Gannushkina and Valery Borschov associated the Ramzan Kadyrov's attention to sport with the desire to strengthen his power.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that journalist David Scott, who interviewed Ramzan Kadyrov for the US HBO TV Channel, called Chechnya "the most frightening place" he had ever visited. According to the journalist, the active support by the authorities for the development of combat sports in the republic may be related to the willingness to strengthen the Chechen law enforcement agencies.

The authorities of Chechnya closely cooperate with the MMA fighting club, and later, athletes can be used for the law enforcement agencies and for putting pressure on people undesired by the authorities. This opinion was voiced by Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the "Civic Assistance Committee".

She agrees with David Scott that the sport is being promoted for propaganda purposes and is a PR step for Ramzan Kadyrov and his regime. "The Chechen leader cultivates the priority of power which supports his person among the population," Svetlana Gannushkina emphasized.

According to Valery Borschov, a member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, a symbiosis of the Chechen authorities and athletes means a serious danger to society.

"Athletes professionals or amateurs can be used as a brute force to combat dissent," Valery Borschov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The rights defender also believes that the Ramzan Kadyrov's attitude to sport raises the people's trust in power and increases the prestige of the Chechen leader. However, according to Valery Borschov, the power sport in Chechnya is primarily a way to recruit supporters for Ramzan Kadyrov and loyal law enforcers.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.