US slaps sanctions on strongman ruler of Russia’s Chechnya

MOSCOW (AP) — The United States on Monday slapped sanctions on the regional strongman leader of Russia’s republic of Chechnya over human rights violations. Ramzan Kadyrov, 43, has run Chechnya like his personal fiefdom, relying on his security forces to quash dissent. International human rights groups have accused Kadyrov and his lieutenants of abductions, torture and killings of their opponents. Rights defenders also hold the Chechen…