Chechnya's new president

Madam, - Once again Vladimir Putin has shown his utter disregard for human rights and democracy

Madam, - Once again Vladimir Putin has shown his utter disregard for human rights and democracy. The Russian president has appointed Ramzan Kadyrov as president of Chechnya. Yet according to many human rights organisations, both in Russia and abroad, Kadyrov and his cronies are responsible for massive and gross violations of human rights, including extra-judicial killings, kidnappings and torture, corruption and extortion of humanitarian aid and compensation in Chechnya.

By appointing this thuggish gangster to such a high office in Chechnya, Putin has showed that he does not care about the appalling lack of human rights in Chechnya. The brutal oppression of the people will continue unabated.

There has been much talk lately in your Letters page about human rights in Iraq, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Surely it is time to add Russia and Chechnya to this list. - Yours, etc,

CORMAC O'BRIEN, Marina Village,  Malahide, Co Dublin.