The Turkish daily newspaper Yeni Akit published an interview with Chechen asylum seekers who have recently arrived in Turkey. Their testimonies show the problem of persecution in Chechnya.

According to the news, Chechen asylum seekers Movsar K., with his brothers Aslanbek K. and Magomed K. have just arrived in Turkey from Russian occupied Chechnya, with their wives and children. Right now the families live in a flat which was rented by the Turkish humanitarian aid organization, “Imkan-Der“.

Movsar K. explained that nothing has changed in Chechnya and people are still in pain and tears. “Putin or Kadyrov, they are same,” he said.

“I was abducted by Kadyrov’s police (Kadyrovites) because three of my sons are in the mountains to defend our homeland. I was kept in prisons; two days in Gudermes and seven days in Nozhai-Yurt. During this time I saw all kinds of torture used by the Kadyrovites. They used electric shock on my feet and ears. If I did not show the reaction that they were waiting for, they poured water on me and gave me more electricity. I was fainting. They were beating me with iron bars. They were putting cigarettes out on my body. My relatives paid 7,000 US dollars and they finally released me,” said Movsar.

Movsar pointed out that if you do not have money, death awaits you in these prisons. “Kadyrov is nothing more than a puppet. Since 1999, the chaos has not stopped, even for one second in Chechen territory. There is only blood and tears. If the persecution continues, there will be nothing,” he said.

*Text was translated by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco