Russia's ombudswoman for the rights of children says she has sent an official query to the children’s ombudsman in the North Caucasus region of Chechnya after state television broadcast mixed martial arts (MMA) fights between children.
Anna Kuznetsova made the announcement on October 6, two days after three sons -- all aged between 8 and 10 -- of Chechnya’s Moscow-backed leader Ramzan Kadyrov won their fights in the cage during a so-called exhibition bout in Grozny.
Ten-year-old Akhmad beat another boy by a technical knockout.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "If all of this is true, then probably a live broadcast of a child's knockout is the reason for the proper supervisory authorities to closely look into this matter."
The chairman of Russia's MMA Union, Fyodor Yemelyanenko earlier called the fights "unacceptable," saying the children risked permanent injury and psychological harm.
Yemelyanenko said children under the age of 12 should not be allowed to take part in any MMA fights and that anyone under the age of 21 must wear a helmet and protective gear, which was not the case in the fights involving Kadyrov's sons.
He also expressed concerns that the children's fight was shown on state television.
Kadyrov posted a video of the bouts on his own Instagram account.
Kadyrov's cousin Adam Delimkhanov, who is a Russian lawmaker, lambasted Yemelyanenko for the criticism, calling him "a coward."
"Whoever the man is, he will have to be accountable for every word he uttered regarding my dear nephews," Delimkhanov wrote on Instagram on October 6.
Kadyrov was inaugurated on October 5 -- his 40th birthday -- to a new term as Chechnya's leader.
