Kadyrov declares offer to exchange Ukrainian POWs for lifting sanctions as trolling

The proposal of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, to release 20 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), if sanctions against his relatives are lifted, was criticized by a number of pro-government Russian bloggers. Kadyrov has treated this offer as "fat trolling" against American authorities.

According to his version, for the US leadership lives of ordinary Ukrainians mean nothing, since they "bother only about their own interests." "Therefore, I made the above statement to show the true face of American politicians," the head of Chechnya has explained in his Telegram channel.

In his opinion, the United States won't agree to lift sanctions in exchange for 20 Ukrainian POWs. "But it will be interesting to listen to their excuses, if there are any," the head of Chechnya has added.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 5, Scott Ritter, a former UN inspector for monitoring the elimination of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, visited Chechnya. Ramzan Kadyrov told him that he was ready to release 20 Ukrainian POWs if sanctions were lifted on his relatives, as well as his horses and aircrafts.

Alexander Kots, a military correspondent, has called Kadyrov's proposal a "dubious bargain." He recalled that Kadyrov had played an important role in military exchanges, but asked: "Do past merits give him the right to dispose of POWs as goods for personal purposes?"

Marina Akhmedova, a member of the Human Rights Council under the Russian President, has also noted in her Telegram channel that she was surprised by Kadyrov's proposal. "POWs are exchanged for POWs – for our Russian militaries, who are waiting for an exchange in captivity. Everything else is slave trade," she has written.

Tumso Abdurakhmanov, an oppositional blogger, has recalled in his Telegram channel that Kadyrov had reacted particularly painfully to the inclusion of his mother, Aimani Kadyrova, into the sanctions list, which may be related to her health and the need for medical treatment abroad.

Let us note here that Kadyrov had earlier repeatedly commented on the sanctions imposed on himself and his family. Thus, in March 2022, he wrote: "Know that I don't care about any sanctions from any country. I am afraid of only one thing – to fall under the sanctions of the Almighty!"