Ramzan Kadyrov and Alyaksandr Lukashenka have meet in Minsk. We have gathered several quotes of both leaders to compare their views on sensitive issues.
In April 2017, after the US conducted missile strikes on Syria, Alyaksandr Lukashenka pitied Donald Trump. According to Lukashenka, the newly elected American president had to “push the button” to prove that he is able to rule the country. At the same time, Lukashenka denounced US activity abroad and advised them “to cut the appetite”:
In an interview with US television channel, Ramzan Kadyrov said that he did not consider the US an enemy of Russia and personally threatened that in case of war, there would be nothing left of the United States.
On Crimea and Ukraine
“Many people say, that Crimea was once incorrectly transferred to Ukraine, that it is traditionally a Russian territory, and so on. This is the wrong approach. Let’s then go back in the time of Batu Khan, the Mongol-Tatar yoke, then the whole territory of Russia would have to be joined with Kazakhstan, Mongolia… Why go back into past? Boundaries cannot be redrawn,” said Lukashenka.
Ramzan Kadyrov visited Crimea in 2014
“If necessary, we will come to the rescue and help to rise from their knees to those who was humiliated and hurt by terrorists (…) We can arrive by air, by road, on foot. Today we need to support the policy pursued by the Russian Federation, because the blood of our ancestors was shed in Crimea,too,” said Ramzan Kadyrov on NTV.
On relationship with Putin
“Calm down, we have a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin. A brilliant relationship! If there are some problems, we will solve them: without intermediaries, we will decide together, we do not need any help. We are brothers, we have nothing to fight about,” said Lukashenka about Vladimir Putin in the spring of 2017.
“I have often said that I am a devotee of our President, I am ready to fulfill orders of any complexity of our supreme commander and give my life for it,” said Ramzan Kadyrov in 2017.
On LGBT community
The Belarusian leader is known for his outrageous statements about the members of the LGBT community. He said that “it is better to be a dictator than gay” and that he will not allow for same-sex marriages and “gay activity” in Belarus as long as he is president.
While the Belarusian leader does not understand the issue, Ramzan Kadyrov denies its existence altogether. This year, a journalistic investigation revealed gay men tortured and even killed in Chechnya.
On economy
In 2012, Ramzan Kadyrov called the economy of Chechnya the most effective and transparent among Russian regions. At the same time, Chechnya remains the most dependent Russian region in terms of subsidies. In 2017, their budget was very much reduced, and Kadyrov asked his leadership to encourage investment opportunities.
