2024-08-19
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[Text/Observer.com Chen Sijia] According to the Associated Press report on August 17, Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechen Republic of Russia, released a video that day showing a U.S.TeslaKadyrov also extended an invitation to Tesla CEO Elon Musk to visit the Chechen capital of Grozny.
In the video, Kadyrov is seen driving a Cybertruck with a machine gun mounted on it through the streets of Grozny. He also hangs an ammunition belt on his body and stands next to the machine gun on the back of the truck to give a speech, claiming that he will send the vehicle "to the special military operations zone."
Kadyrov praised the Cybertruck as "one of the best cars in the world." He posted on the social platform Telegram: "We got a Cybertruck from the respected Elon Musk. I am very happy to test this new technology. It is not by chance that it is called the 'electric beast'. I believe that this 'beast' will be of great use to our warriors."
Kadyrov took the opportunity to invite Musk to visit the Chechen Republic of Russia, promising to receive him as the "most distinguished guest". "I think the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not mind such a visit. Of course, we are waiting for your latest progress, which will help us complete our special military operations."
The Cybertruck is an electric pickup truck released by Tesla in November 2019. It will begin deliveries in November 2023 and is currently only sold in the North American market.
The Associated Press said Kadyrov claimed that the Cybertruck was a gift from Musk, but this claim has not been confirmed. Tesla did not immediately respond to Kadyrov's video, but Musk himself replied on the social platform X: "Do you really think I would give a Cybertruck to a Russian general?"
The Daily Beast reported that the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on Kadyrov in 2017 on the grounds that he was suspected of "serious human rights violations." In 2020, the U.S. government announced sanctions on several companies under Kadyrov's name and prohibited any U.S. citizen from providing any "funds, goods and services" to the sanctioned individuals.
U.S. persons who violate sanctions may face civil and criminal penalties under guidelines from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
In March of this year, Musk said on X that he believed Ukraine should end the conflict through negotiations as soon as possible. Musk wrote at the time: "If the war lasts long enough, Odessa will fall one day. In my opinion, whether Ukraine will lose all access to the Black Sea is the real remaining question. I suggest resolving the conflict through negotiations before then."
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