Chechen teen's grim display criticized as 'medieval' by council
In a Chechen town, regional authorities decided to display the body of a teenager who attacked police officers in the main square. Teachers and students were compelled to watch. The Kremlin spokesperson does not believe this information, while a member of the Human Rights Council under the President of Russia likens it to medieval times.
The reports conveyed by Russian media and government representatives may not be entirely accurate. Such reports could be part of an information war by the Russian Federation.
The display of the body of the slain teenager in Achkhoi-Martan, Chechnya, has sparked a wave of criticism. The 17-year-old allegedly attacked two police officers with a knife, leading to the death of one of them. Witnesses claimed that Chechen authorities forced teachers and children to attend a special rally and view the boy’s body. This was reportedly an attempt to deter others from committing similar acts.
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 asserted that the attacker was Ukrainian. Videos of the body's display appeared online; however, they are too graphic to publish.
The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, commented on the matter as well. - 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 addressed the issue. She described the event as "medieval" and "barbaric." She emphasized that such actions do not comply with any legal norms and represent a regression in civilizational development.
Humanity evolved to move away from bloody feuds, capital punishment, and public display of cruelty. What is happening, in my opinion, is a cultural and civilizational step backward. Most importantly, it doesn't work at all - "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 laws.
