Salah given honorary citizenship by Chechnya leader.
Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has been granted honorary citizenship of Chechnya by Ramzan Kadyrov, a ruler widely accused of human rights violations.
Chechnya leader Kadyrov is backed by the Kremlin but is under sanctions imposed by the United States, which accuses him of contravening human rights.
He handed Salah a decree declaring him a citizen at a dinner in honour of the Egypt team ahead of their departure for Volgograd, where they will play Saudi Arabia in their final group match on Monday.
“Mohamed Salah thanked us for the surprisingly warm and good reception, excellent attitude to the team, excellent living conditions and training,” Kadyrov posted on Russian social network site VK.
In his social media post, Kadyrov said he wants Egypt to return to Chechnya after the World Cup for a friendly against local club Akhmat Grozny – named after his father, who was assassinated in 2004.
Kadyrov’s rule been marred by reports of extrajudicial killings and torture in the republic which saw two separatist wars.
Recently, he came under pressure when reports surfaced of a broad crackdown on homosexual people. He insists there are no gay people in the region.
Press Association Sport has contacted the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) which by Saturday evening had yet to comment on the citizenship awarded to Salah.
Salah missed Egypt's World Cup opener against Uruguay as he continued to recover from the shoulder injury that forced him out of Liverpool's Champions League final defeat.
He returned for the game with hosts Russia and scored a penalty in Egypt's 3-1 defeat. The African nation face Saudi Arabia in Volgograd on Monday knowing they can qualify from the group stage.
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