Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been awarded a medal "for unselfish work in the name of children."
Children's rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov announced the award on Wednesday, writing on social network Twitter that "not one child in the Chechnya republic was left by a mother in a maternity hospital in the last three years."
All newly discovered orphans in Chechnya find their new homes with relatives and foster parents, the ombudsman said, adding that even children with disabilities are not sent to orphanages.
"The main carer in a Chechen family is a grandmother: wise, experienced, patient, kind, caring, strict and full of love. Mother of a family and a generation," Astakhov said.
Astakhov has been in the media spotlight in recent months, with the so-called Dima Yakovlev law banning U.S. adoptions of Russian children making headlines worldwide.
The ombudsman, formerly a celebrity lawyer, has said that all foreign adoptions are harmful for Russia, since they diminish the number of domestic adoptions and create opportunities for corruption.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
