CHECHENS THINK HUMAN RIGHTS ENVOY A CRIMINAL.

Queried about a recent award presented by the Council of Europe to President Putin’s special human rights envoy to Chechnya, Vladimir Kalamanov, Vachagaev responded: “In presenting this medal, the Council of Europe has discredited the very name of democracy and of human rights which it is supposed to defend. Because Putin named Vladimir Kalamanov with a single goal in mind: so that he would cover up the crimes committed by the Russian army in Chechnya…. For the majority of Chechens, Vladimir Kalamanov is himself a criminal.”