Russia ? President Vladimir Putin on Thursday gave power in Chechnya to a widely feared pro-Russian strongman, Ramzan Kadyrov, even as Europe’s human rights chief warned of widespread torture and other abuses allegedly committed by Kadyrov’s henchmen.

Kadyrov, the son of an assassinated Chechen president, previously served as prime minister and had been expected to seek the presidency after turning 30 in October – the minimum age for the office under local law. His nomination follows Putin’s dismissal of regional President Alu Alkhanov; legislative approval was expected today.

More than a decade of separatist fighting has left much of Chechnya, particularly the capital Grozny, a moonscape of ruins, and Kadyrov has led a largely federally funded rebuilding campaign.

During a meeting Thursday with Kadyrov, Putin hailed the reconstruction efforts, saying Chechnya has seen “significant positive developments.”