Last month, HBO’s Real Sports landed a rare western-media interview withRamzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Russian republic of Chechnya who also runs an MMA gym and promotion in the country. The interview was chilling, to say the least.
In it, Kadyrov said he would “condone” violence against homosexuals, who he referred to as “devils” and “subhuman.” Kadyrov scoffed at the widespread reports of kidnapping, torturing and murder of gay men in the region by his regime, while also lobbing several hateful statements towards the United States of America.
Additionally, the Real Sports piece spoke with two anonymous gay Chechen men, both of whom detailed atrocities they alleged were performed against them by Kadyrov’s government, including kidnapping and the electrocution of their genitals.