Kadyrov's controversial Nobel recognition sparks outrage and disbelief
A Nobel delegation has travelled to the capital of Chechnya, Grozny. It is not just any delegation but one from the Ludvig Nobel Foundation. It was specially established so that Russia could bestow such an honour on advocates of its propaganda. This time, the Russian Nobel landed directly in the hands of Ramzan Kadyrov, a close confidant and helper of Vladimir Putin.
The so-called Nobel delegation delivered a lengthy speech listing Kadyrov's achievements and virtues, which led to his being chosen as the recipient of this award. Kadyrov was praised for what he had done for Chechnya. According to the "Nobel Committee," he contributed to its reconstruction and development.
It is an honour for us, for the Ludvig Nobel Foundation, the first Russian Nobel Prize, the first Nobel Prize in the world, to personally present you with this award. It is also an honour that in 2008, the laureate of the Ludvig Nobel Prize was the head of our state, Vladimir Putin.
Where there are Chechens, there is victory and courage. Chechens are very brave. We thank you for that – said the individual members of the "Russian Nobel" committee.
Among them was Irina Viner, a Russian gymnastics coach who was removed from the international gymnastics federation last year. Irina was said to have introduced Putin to his alleged lover – gymnast Alina Kabaeva.
Kadyrov has been appealing for a Nobel Prize for years. Once for himself, once for Putin
Already in 2020, Ramzan Kadyrov declared on the international stage that the sanctions from the USA are unfair because he – contrary to the Americans – dealt with international terrorism. He then asserted that he should receive a Nobel Prize.
In March 2023, a year after the Russian aggression on Ukraine, Kadyrov not only condemned the arrest warrant for the Russian president but even declared that Putin should be... nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. According to the Chechen leader, the award was deserved because he "saved" children from Donbas.
He didn’t have to wait long for a gesture of gratitude from the Russian leader. Literally a week later, he received the "Honoured Human Rights Defender of the Chechen Republic" medal. The rationale for this recognition was at the very least absurd – Kadyrov was supposedly appreciated for his "outstanding contributions to the protection of constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens."
Ultimately, Kadyrov got the long-desired Nobel Prize. Although it was the Ludvig Nobel Prize and not the Alfred Nobel Prize, it seems that it made no significant difference to him.
