Musk denies present to Chechen ruler Kadyrov

Chechen chief Kadyrov bragged in a video about an alleged present from the top of Tesla. Elon Musk responds – and goes on the offensive.

The pinnacle of Tesla, Elon Musk, has denied giving a Cybertruck from the US firm to the Chechen chief, Ramzan Kadyrov. “Are you actually that retarded that you just assume I gave a Russian basic a Cybertruck?” he replied to a submit by the US author and journalist Seth Abramson on Musk’s Platform X. The declare is “one other instance of how” very a lot the established media lies”.

Kadyrov had beforehand boasted concerning the Tesla Cybertruck on his Telegram information channel. The pinnacle of the Russian republic of Chechnya within the North Caucasus claimed to have obtained the “cyber-beast” from Musk. After a visit within the capital Grozny, the 47-year-old man appeared in a video with bullet cartridges round his neck on a truck-mounted machine gun. Within the clip, Kadyrov mentioned: “Elon, thanks!”, Though it was not clear if it was a present. The “cyber-beast” ought to quickly be of use in Russia’s battle in opposition to Ukraine.

Like lots of of members of Russia’s energy equipment, Kadyrov is topic to Western sanctions. The video is subsequently additionally an indication to the West that the wealthy and highly effective in Russia can nonetheless have luxurious items that aren’t allowed to enter the nation as a result of punitive measures. Such imports are organized by means of intermediaries overseas. The Chechen ruler, for instance, has wonderful connections within the United Arab Emirates.

Kadyrov is criticized internationally for critical human rights violations. Civil rights activists additionally accuse the staunch supporter of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin of murdering political opponents, torturing prisoners and kidnapping. Kadyrov fills public positions with family and, with the Kremlin’s tacit approval, repeatedly and blatantly breaks the legislation.