Sanctions extended against the mother of Kadyrov and a prominent associate

In a recent development, the Akhmat-Hadzhi Kadyrov Regional Public Foundation and its head, Aymani Kadyrova, have been added to the UK sanctions list. This move comes as part of the UK government's efforts to target individuals and organizations suspected of involvement in the forced deportation and ideological indoctrination of Ukrainian children.

The UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has condemned the Kremlin's policy of 'forced deportations and indoctrination of Ukrainian children'. The sanctions also extend to pro-government youth movements Movement of the First and Volunteers of Victory, as well as Tatarstan's Deputy Prime Minister Leila Fazleeva and the republic's Youth Minister Rinat Sadykov.

Meanwhile, Zamid Chalaev, commander of the special police regiment of the Chechen Interior Ministry named after Akhmat Kadyrov, has also been added to the UK sanctions list. Chalaev is under EU sanctions for organising 'military re-education' camps in Chechnya for children taken from Ukraine by Russian forces.

The expansion of UK sanctions has not been received lightly. Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, issued a sharp response on his Telegram channel, calling the sanctions 'absurd and hypocritical'.

Independent journalism in the region is under threat, a situation that has prompted a community of readers to build a newsroom to respond to this issue. In 2021, Russian independent media outlet Novaya Gazeta published testimonies of abuses committed against local residents by Chalaev's subordinates.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, close to 20,000 children have been confirmed as having been forcibly removed from the country. Only around 1,600 of those children have since been returned.

The Caucasus region is undergoing changes, and these sanctions are a reflection of the international community's growing concern over the situation in the region. Australia has also expanded its sanctions against Russia, now including 14 individuals linked to the suppression of political opposition and support for the war in Ukraine. Among those targeted by Australia are entrepreneur Ilgam Ragimov, known as a close associate of Putin, co-founder of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company Andrei Kozitsyn, Radik Shaimiev, son of the former president of Tatarstan, Moscow Deputy Mayor Maksim Liksutov, and media entrepreneur Kristina Potupchik.

As the situation continues to evolve, it is crucial for the international community to remain vigilant and to hold those responsible for human rights abuses accountable. The sanctions imposed by the UK and Australia are a step in this direction, but much more needs to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of the children affected by this conflict.