Ramzan Kadyrov, president of the Russian republic of Chechnya, has denied claims of persecution and murders of perceived bisexual and gay men by claiming Chechnya has no gays.

“This is nonsense,” Kadyrov said in an interview scheduled to air on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.” “We don’t have these kinds of people here. We don’t have any gays. If there are any take them to Canada.

“Praise be to God. Take them far from us so we don’t have them at home. To purify our blood, if there are any here, take them,” he said.

Kadyrov also had words to express about reporters seeking the truth: “They are devils. They are for sale. They are not people…. God damn them for what they are accusing us of. They will have to answer to the Almighty for this.”

Despite an open video clip of his claims, the Kremlin insists Kadyrov’s words were taken “out of context.”

Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, said: “As for Kadyrov’s interview, frankly speaking, very often, his words are taken out of context.” He also claimed “nothing out of the ordinary was said there … in context.”

The full interview will be released on July 18. Check out the context below.