Chechen First Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov told NTV television on 9 June that \"we will punish\" the relatives of Chechen resistance fighters and, if necessary, ask the Russian State Duma to enact legislation that would legalize such reprisals, Reuters reported. Kadyrov argued that those fighters \"can kill our relatives, our fathers and brothers, but we cannot kill theirs.\" Reuters quoted unnamed observers as pointing out that any such legislation could in fact legalize the activities of Ramzan Kadyrov\'s personal security squad, which is widely believed to engage with impunity in the abduction, torture, and killing of Chechen civilians. (RFE/RL)