Chechen outrage: Public display of teen's body criticized
In one of the Chechen towns, the regional authorities decided to display the body of a teenager who attacked police officers in the main square. Teachers and students were forced to watch. The Kremlin spokesperson does not believe this information, and a member of the Human Rights Council under the President of Russia describes it as reminiscent of medieval times.
Many of the reports conveyed by Russian media and government representatives are likely not true. Such reports may be part of an information war by the Russian Federation.
The display of the body of the slain teenager in Achkhoi-Martan, Chechnya, sparked a wave of criticism. The 17-year-old allegedly attacked two police officers with a knife, resulting in the death of one of them. Witnesses claimed that the Chechen authorities forced teachers and children to attend a remarkable rally to witness the boy’s body. This was intended to deter others from committing similar crimes.
The leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, also imposed collective punishment on the 17-year-old's family. He ordered the expulsion of the attacker's relatives and the confiscation of their property. Furthermore, he alleged that the attacker was Ukrainian. Videos of the body display surfaced online; however, they are too graphic to publish.
As it turns out, the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, also commented: "We do not wish to rely on information disseminated by opposition channels on Telegram. We do not consider these sources trustworthy. We have no other information. " The spokesperson's words are quoted by the "Meduza" portal, citing radio Mayak.
Ewa Merkacheva, a member of the Human Rights Council under the Russian President, also spoke out on the matter. She described the event as "medieval" and "barbaric." She emphasized that such actions do not conform to any legal norms and reflect a step backward in civilizational development.
Humanity has evolved to get away from blood feuds, from capital punishment and public displays of cruelty. So what is happening is, in my opinion, a step backwards in terms of culture and civilisation - "Meduza" quotes Merkacheva.
The council member also referred to research indicating that harsh penalties do not reduce crime. According to her, it may only increase the level of aggression. A member of the Human Rights Council, Kirill Kabanov, reminded that despite "national traditions and regional specificities," Russia has a constitution and applicable law.
