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![\"Ramzan](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/kadyrov.jpeg?resize=195%2C195\")
<\/p>\nChechnya\u2019s Anti-Gay Leader Attacks Human Rights Group as Revenge for Instagram Deactivation<\/b>
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Russia\u2019s oldest human rights group Memorial has said that Chechnya\u2019s leader Ramzan Kadyrov<\/a> likely directed ongoing attacks against it after he lost his Instagram account dues to U.S. sanctions<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n In December, Vladimir Putin<\/a> ally Kadyrov, 41 was sanctioned by the US Treasury over alleged human rights abuses<\/a>. Facebook, which also owns Instagram, said the U.S. decision meant it was legally obliged to deactivate his accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n Last week, Memorial offices in the southern Russian republic of Ingushetia were torched by masked men<\/a>. Days earlier, Oyub Titiev, the head of Memorial\u2019s office in Chechen capital Grozny, was arrested for possession of six ounces of cannabis. That charge could potentially lead to a 10-year prison sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n Memorial representatives believe that Chechen security forces were involved in both cases. <\/span><\/p>\n One of Memorial\u2019s founders Oleg Orlov said:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe closure of his Instagram account is a matter of Kadyrov\u2019s image, of his prestige. When he feels offended, nothing else is important to him \u2013 whoever gets in his way must be destroyed.\u00a0<\/span>We were held responsible for this by Kadyrov and his inner circle because we are one of the very few sources of information about rights abuses in Chechnya.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Katya Sokirianskaia, another group founder and former representative in Grozny, added:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think this is partly revenge for losing his Instagram [account].\u00a0<\/span>Being placed on the US sanctions list didn\u2019t really bother Kadyrov, but the loss of Instagram was very painful for him. Kadyrov loved his Instagram. It was a very powerful propaganda tool for him, not just his favourite toy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n According to the <\/span>Guardian<\/b><\/a><\/em>, since its founding by dissidents in 1989, Memorial has gained international respect for its work on Soviet-era repression and modern-day human rights abuses. Last year, it helped document the crackdown against gay men<\/a> in Chechnya.<\/span><\/p>\n The post Chechnya\u2019s Anti-Gay Leader Attacks Human Rights Group as Revenge for Instagram Deactivation<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Ramzan](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Ramzan-Kadyrov_chechnya.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRELATED:\u00a0Chechnya Dictator Ramzan Kadyrov: Gays \u2018are Not People. They are Devils. They are for Sale\u2019 \u2013 WATCH<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n