Kadyrov offers to release Ukrainian POWs in exchange for lifting sanctions

The head of Chechnya has stated that he is ready to release 20 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) if the sanctions introduced against his relatives, as well as his horses and aircrafts, are lifted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that after the start of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine, sanctions were repeatedly imposed on Ramzan Kadyrov's relatives and Chechen officials. Thus, on August 24, 2023, the United States imposed sanctions on Aimani Kadyrova, Ramzan's mother.

"Should they lift sanctions from my mother, daughters and horse, we'll release 20 Ukrainian POWs. I don't need removal thereof from me. Do anything against me, but don't touch my family. If the lives of these people are important to them and they want to unite them with their families, let them exchange these soldiers for their sanctions," the "Grozny-Inform" News Agency has quoted Ramzan as saying.

Kadyrov has stated that his family "had never got involved in politics." "My mother and wife didn't appear on TV, much less did my daughters. The innocent horse Zazu has starved for eight years under unknown conditions," he has added.

Let us remind you that horses are one of Kadyrov's income sources. In October 2014, horse racing organizers in Germany froze the prize payments for the victory of the stallions Zazu and Bystry Finish, owned by Kadyrov, since in the summer of that year he was included into the EU sanctions list.