Soltayev boasted of an award for affirming spiritual values

Chechnya's Human Rights Commissioner, Mansur Soltayev, who has repeatedly denied human rights problems in the republic, announced an award from the North Caucasus Muslim Coordination Center for promoting spiritual values.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, Mansur Soltayev was appointed Chechen Human Rights Commissioner in December 2021. During this time, he has repeatedly denied human rights violations by the Chechen authorities. For example, he stated that Chechen security forces acted within the law when detaining Zarema Musayeva. He also appeared in a video with Seda Suleimanova after she was brought to Chechnya, and stated that the girl was in no danger. In response to the comments of the UN Human Rights Committee, Soltayev stated that the identified human rights problems are artificially created, and that there are no human rights violations in the republic. Soltayev called the beating in Chechnya of journalist Elena Milashina and lawyer Alexander Nemov a provocation aimed at discrediting the republic's authorities.

Mansur Soltayev, the Human Rights Commissioner for Chechnya, announced today on his Telegram channel that he had received the medal "For the Advancement of Spiritual Values" from the Coordinating Council of Muslims of the North Caucasus. "This award is a profound recognition of my modest contribution to the protection of human rights, the dissemination of Islamic spiritual and cultural traditions, and service to the Muslim ummah," Soltayev said, noting that he received the award from the Mufti of Chechnya and Chairman of the North Caucasus Muslim Coordinating Council, Salakh Mezhiyev, during the final reporting conference of the North Caucasus Muslim Coordinating Council in Grozny.

As a reminder, following the murder of Aishat Baimuradova in Armenia, Chechen authorities used her murder to intimidate potential Chechen fugitives and discredit human rights activists. Human rights activists believe the actions of Mansur Soltayev, who has become the face of this campaign, are aimed at deflecting responsibility from the Chechen authorities.

23-year-old Chechen native Ayshat Baimuradova, who fled domestic violence in Armenia with the help of human rights activists, failed to return from a walk on October 15 when she went to meet a friend. On October 17, police issued a search warrant for Baimuradova, and on October 19, Ayshat was found dead in a rented apartment on Demirchyan Street in Yerevan. Baimuradova fled to Armenia to escape domestic violence, but at the same time, publicly criticized Kadyrov's regime, the human rights activist said.

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