The President of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, stated during an interview with conservative newspaper "Zavtra" (tomorrow) that "homosexualism" along with with prostitution and drug addiction is "the main problem of contemporary Russia."

"Today’s generation is a tainted one," he said in a discussion with author Aleksander Prokhanov.  "Prostitution, drug addition, gays - they are poisoning our generation ..."  These words were cited by the State Information Agency of the Chechen Republic.

" ...Say a word against gays, and the press will crush you," reflects Kadyrov.  "Why?  Because there is a whole system in place which is designed to weaken the government, weaken free will, honor, and courage."

Immediately following these words, Kadyrov declared that Russia "... needs warriors, needs protectors of the fatherland.  This is why Chechens will always be in the foreground ..."

Ramzan Kadyrov has frequently raised the question of the existence of gay clubs in Russia’s capital.  Most recently he made this sort of statement in April 2009 during an interview with the state-owned "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" (Russian Newspaper).  During the same interview, Kadyrov welcomed the propagation of Islam throughout Russia and made an appeal for polygamy, despite the fact that it contradicts Russian laws.

Translated by Timothy Grishin