Amnesty International calls for immediate release of brothers Magamadov and Isaev

The international human rights organisation Amnesty International called for the immediate release of the brothers Salekh Magamadov and Ismail Isaev, who are now on trial in Chechnya on charges of participating in an illegal armed group.

"Belonging to the LGBT community in Chechnya, or indeed anywhere else, is not a crime. The ordeal they have to endure must end now," Amnesty International's director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Marie Struthers said in a statement.

Saleh Magamadov and Ismail Isaev are siblings, one of whom is reportedly gay by according to media and human rights organizations, and the other intends to make a transgender transition.

In February 2021, Magamadov and Isaev were kidnapped from an apartment in Nizhny Novgorod and taken to Chechnya.

In August 2021 last year, the brothers claimed they were being beaten, demanding confessions. The Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Chechnya refused to open a criminal case on torture.

Magamadov and Isaev petitioned to transfer the consideration of their case to another region, since, in their opinion, in Chechnya they cannot hope for an impartial trial. Protesting against the refusal of the court, on December 21 they went on a hunger strike, which they held until January 9. At the end of January, the Supreme Court of Chechnya finally denied their application.

Kadyrov's third daughter appointed deputy head of his secretariat

The third daughter of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, Khutmat, has been appointed deputy head of his secretariat. Previously, she was the director of the Grozny Dolphinarium entertainment complex. Kadyrov himself introduced his daughter to the secretariat when he introduced the department to the new head, Valid Edilov, former director of the Akhmat sports club. The agency clarifies that Edilov also holds positions in the Russian Boxing Federation.

Within a few hours after the appointment of Khutmat Kadyrova, State Duma deputy Adam Delimkhanov, Minister of the Chechen Republic for National Policy, external relations, press and information Akhmed Dudayev and deputy of the Chechen parliament Magomed Khanbiev congratulated her.

Khutmat Kadyrova is known for performing nasheeds (Muslim chants) with the Kuwaiti sheikh and the famous performer of this genre, Mishari al-Afasi. The Chechen media called Khutmat "the youngest farmer in Russia." At the end of 2020, she headed the department of preschool education in Grozny. In January of this year, she took first place in the women's standings at the competitions of the International Confederation of Practical Shooting and the RUS Sports and Shooting Club at the Russian University of Special Forces in Gudermese.

Son of Kadyrov's close associate became director of Akhmat sports club

The son of the deputy head of the government of Chechnya, Abuzaid Vismuradov, became the general director of the Akhmat fight club. Ramzan Vismuradov used to be a fighter at this club. The new appointment at Akhmat was announced by its former director Valid Edilov. He introduced the new leader on his Instagram. "This is a well-mannered, ambitious and hardworking young man who, I am sure, will cope with the obligations assigned to him," Edilov wrote.

Previously, Ramzan Vismuradov participated in semi-professional mixed martial arts fights at the Akhmat club. His father, Abuzaid Vismuradov, is the Deputy Prime Minister of the Chechen government and the commander of the Chechen special rapid reaction unit (SOBR) "Terek." Vismuradov was included in the sanctions lists in 2019 under the Magnitsky Act, the US Treasury reported. Subsequently, the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, appointed Vismuradov to the post of deputy chairman of the government of the republic on issues of interaction with the power bloc.

The Chechen sports club "Akhmat" is under US sanctions due to accusations against Ramzan Kadyrov and his entourage of systemic human rights violations, including mass abductions, torture and extrajudicial executions in the republic.

In Chechnya, Abdul-Kerim Edilov has been appointed deputy chairman of the government of the republic. In the government, he will oversee youth policy, sports, and control over the spending of budget funds. Edilov is a former coach of the children of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, and a mixed martial arts fighter.

North Caucasus collected least taxes in Russia

Five of the six federal republics of the North Caucasus are outsiders in terms of tax collection. At the end of 2021, they accounted for only 0.2% of taxes collected in the country. Approximately the same amount falls on the remaining sixth republic - Dagestan.

In 2021, Russia collected 300.7 billion euros in taxes and fees (data includes annexed Crimea). Almost half (47%) of them is collected in five regions of the country - Moscow, Khanty-Mansiysk and Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrugs, St. Petersburg, and Tatarstan, according to a study by the FinExpertiza audit and consulting network.

Krasnodar Territory is the first in terms of tax deductions, taking 17th place in the country with 1.7% of revenues to the treasury. Dagestan took 58th place in the rating in terms of the share of taxes collected, with 0.2% or 590 million euros.