The son of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, the Minister of Sports of the republic, Akhmat Kadyrov, appealed to the representatives of Chechnya participating in pop-MMA with an appeal not to disgrace their native people.
"Your activities and behavior in and outside the ring cause deep concern and defame the honor of our people and the faith we follow… Today, unfortunately, we are witnessing some of you insulting this sacred heritage in your press conferences and public speeches. Your antics, obscene speech and indecent behavior not only humiliate you, but also shame the entire Chechen people and the Muslim community as a whole. You are questioning the efforts of hundreds of thousands of people seeking to preserve and develop our traditions," Kadyrov said.
He called on all representatives of Chechen nationality participating in pop MMA to "focus on tournaments that correspond to our traditions and culture."
"This is the last warning. Stop your activities in pop MMA, as it contradicts our traditions and values. Otherwise, concrete measures will be taken. We can no longer tolerate such behavior," Kadyrov warned.
He did not specify exactly what measures would be taken against the athletes.
Akhmat Kadyrov is 18 years old. In February, he was appointed Minister of Youth Affairs of Chechnya, and on May 21 became Minister of Physical Culture and Sports of the republic.