Former American intelligence officer Scott Ritter has visited the Russian republic of Chechnya, offering its leader Ramzan Kadyrov and his fighters "friendship" with the United States.
Ritter, a former United Nations Special Commission weapons inspector, U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer, and a convicted sex offender, made the remarks in an address during his visit to Chechnya's capital, Grozny.
Ritter has regularly contributed to Russian state media and often mirrors Kremlin talking points on President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.
A clip of Ritter's address was posted on X, formerly Twitter, by BBC journalist Francis Scarr, who said it showed "one of the most surreal moments of the war yet."
"Scott Ritter has turned up in Chechnya and spoken in broken Russian (some of which I couldn't make out) to thousands of Kadyrov's fighters about his efforts to strengthen the 'friendship between Chechnya and America'," Scarr captioned the video.
Ritter began his speech by addressing Kadyrov's Chechen fighters, who have fought alongside Putin's troops in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"This is my second time in Chechnya. The first time I came, people said to me, 'Why do you want to visit Chechnya?' - I said, 'I have to! I have to visit!' - Why? Because now in America and Europe people only know when I saw Chechnya, they think the people are frightening," said Ritter.
"It isn't true [that Chechens are scary]. While visiting I've seen Chechen people, the best people! People who want to live in peace! People want friendship with the whole world," he added.
Ritter said the most important moment will be when the war in Ukraine is over and "you return home, say hello to your family and children."
"That's why I'm here. I want to work for the friendship between Chechnya and America. America isn't a bad place. American people are like you. Good people! The state is a different matter. That's politics. I'm not a politician. I'm a soldier, like you!"
Ritter proceeded to say that he thinks Russia will win its war in Ukraine.
"I think you will win! I know how you work. And when it's over, I want every Chechen soldier to return home to normal life. Once more, many thanks, I'm very happy to be here. I'm very happy to make your acquaintance," Ritter added.
Kadyrov has ruled the predominantly Muslim republic of Chechnya, located in southern Russia, since 2007. He has been accused by international groups of overseeing numerous human-rights abuses, including abductions, torture and extrajudicial killings.
On November 27 last year, Kadyrov said a further 3,000 of his fighters were ready to fight in Ukraine as part of new units of the Russian Defense Ministry and the Russian National Guard.
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About the writer
Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek Reporter based in Kuala Lumpur. Her focus is reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war. Isabel ... Read more
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