Putin and Chechnya

Once again Vladimir Putin has shown his utter disregard to human rights and democracy. Last week, the Russian President appointed Ramzan Kadyrov as president of Chechnya. According to many human rights organisations, both in Russia and abroad, Kadyrov and his cronies are responsible for massive and gross violations of human rights, including extra-judicial killings, kidnappings and torture, corruption and extortion of humanitarian aid and compensation in Chechnya.

By appointing this thuggish gangster to such a high office in Chechnya, Putin has showed that he does not care about the appalling human rights situation in Chechnya. The brutal oppression of the Chechen population will continue unabated.

There has been much talk lately about the human rights situation in Iraq, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Surely it is time to add Russia and Chechnya to this list.

Cormac O'Brien, Malahide, Co. Dublin