Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he sees nothing unusual in sanctions against Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov: he protects the interests of not only the republic but also the whole country, so he is a target for Russia's opponents.
Earlier, the United States imposed sanctions on the Akhmad Kadyrov Foundation, which was created on the initiative of Ramzan Kadyrov, as well as on companies and sports clubs associated with him, including the Akhmat football club. The United Kingdom also imposed its own sanctions. The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, said that these restrictions would not affect the republic in any way.
During the President's large conference, a journalist from the Vainakh state television and radio station asked what he thought the Western sanctions on Kadyrov and his entourage had to do with.
"Are they only making up all kinds of sanctions and all kinds of stories about Kadyrov? I think they're making them up with regard to Russia as a whole. And Ramzan Akhmatovich defends the interests not only of Chechnya and the Chechen people but of the whole country. That's why he's one of the targets for our so-called opponents from abroad. There is nothing special here, nothing unusual," Putin said.
"I know that Ramzan Akhmatovich also has a philosophical attitude. I have some of my close connections, friends or, one might say, associates, employees even take offense at our partners if there are no sanctions against them. They say: how come? It makes you wonder what we have done that sanctions are not imposed against us on purpose, to show that we have some special relations with our partners," the president added.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from RIA Novosti