North Caucasus
Thursday 8 June 2023
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“Our country was one of the few that never engaged in the slave trade.”
Kholopstvo and serfdom were legal in Russia; millions were sold, bought and used for hard labor. -
“I repeat, we are talking specifically about partial mobilization. That is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription. And above all, those who served in the armed forces.”
Russian sources say some of those conscripted to fight in Ukraine have no military experience. -
Western intelligence services and independent researchers estimate that Russia has lost far more troops in Ukraine than it claims.
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“We remind you that Russia, throughout all of its history, has never attacked anyone.”
Russia has engaged in numerous offensive military operations against its neighbors and others. Now, it’s rolling troops into Ukraine. -
“This is not the first time when France attempts to blame all its problems on the Chechens. I assure you all, Chechens have nothing to do with it.”
Seizing on the killing of a French teacher by a Chechen youth, Kadyrov ignores gross human rights violations under his rule. -
“… [W]hat relation do the closest relatives of R.A. Kadyrov have to the imputed violations? … I am not going to comment on these trumped-up charges. Moreover, evidence and arguments are traditionally lacking.”
Evidence supporting alleged human rights violations under Chechen Republic ruler Ramzan Kadyrov’s is abundant. -
In 2014, Russia invaded the Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and, after a “referendum,” brought it into the Russian Federation. Moreover, Russia maintains effective control over separatist territories in former Soviet states without annexing them.
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Claims about WADA doping ban, Maria Butina's foreign agent plea, Zelimkhan Khangoshvili's killing in Berlin.
Polygraph.info presents three claims Putin repeated during his year-end presser that we have previously fact-checked and proved false. -
“He is a cruel and blood-thirsty person. In just one of the attacks in which he took part, he killed 98 people. He was one of the organizers of explosions in the Moscow metro.”
Despite an assertion by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a former Chechen fighter assassinated in Berlin was not on Russia’s terrorist list and had not been accused in any of the seven Moscow metro bombings since 1996. -
“In fact, only his compatriots could have dealt with him - both Russian Chechens and “Ichkeria” militants, hiding in Europe from criminal prosecution [in Russia].”
Likely falseChechens “hiding” from Russia in Europe would not ask to speak with the Russian EmbassyThe suspect in the murder investigation arrested by the court in Berlin demanded to talk with representatives of the Russian Embassy – a request that is highly unlikely to be made by Chechen separatists “hiding” from Russia in Europe. -
“Russia has no intention of becoming similar [to some other countries] imposing their stance by using illegitimate sanctions.”
After targeting Georgian wine exports and announcing a flight ban following anti-Moscow protests in Tbilisi, the Kremlin claimed no "illegal" sanctions are being employed. However, the so-called "restrictions" from the Russian side are clearly designed to hit Georgia's bottom line. -
“The U.S. claims that its armed forces are fighting terrorism and drug trafficking in that country (Afghanistan). But UN data says otherwise. Since the beginning of this year alone, around 400 civilians have died through the fault of the U.S. troops and the forces of official Kabul enlisted by them. That is significantly more than the deaths at the hands of the Taliban, to whom were attributed 227 victims.”
The latest UN report on Afghanistan shows an overall increase in civilian casualties by pro-government forces. However, attributing all the civilian deaths at the hands of pro-government forces to the U.S. military is wrong. U.S. forces are part of an international coalition of 39 nations.