Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been sanctioned by the US and EU over human rights abuses, has bragged on his Telegram channel about a luxury truck made by US carmaker Tesla.
The leader of Russia’s semi-autonomous republic of Chechnya in the Northern Caucasus claimed he received the Cyberbeast from Tesla boss Elon Musk.
“A truly invulnerable and fast animal,” Kadyrov, who has been backed by the Kremlin, said in a Telegram post that included a video.
In the footage, Kadyrov drives around the Chechen capital Grozny in the vehicle, which is equipped with a gun turret. The 47-year-old then poses by the gun mounted on top of the car, while wearing ammunition belts over his shoulders and chest.
He said with a laugh that the Cybertruck would soon come in handy in Russia’s war against neighboring Ukraine. “I am sure that this ‘beast’ will be of great use to our fighters,” he said in the post.
Kadyrov has been criticized internationally for serious human rights violations. Civil rights activists accuse the ardent supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin of murdering political opponents, torturing prisoners and kidnappings.
The ruler himself, together with his relatives, holds public office and repeatedly and demonstratively violates the laws, with the tacit approval of the Kremlin.
In addition to the video of the Cybertruck, which costs more than $99,000, Kadyrov has also released images of Ukrainian war victims and prisoners of war.
Like hundreds of members of the Russian power apparatus, he is facing sanctions from the West.
The video is also a reminder to the West that the rich and powerful in Russia can still obtain luxury goods that are banned from entering the country due to sanctions.
In the clip, Kadyrov thanked Musk, though it was unclear whether the vehicle was a gift. He also invited the tech billionaire to Chechnya.
“I express my sincere gratitude to Elon Musk! This is, of course, the strongest genius of our time and a specialist. A great man!” Kadyrov said.
