19:00, 10 September 2009

Consideration of Chechen President's claim to head of "Memorial" to start on September 25

On September 25, the Tver Court of Moscow will start considering the claim lodged by President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov against Oleg Orlov, head of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", on defence of his honour, dignity and business reputation.

As reported today by Anna Stavitskaya, Mr Orlov's advocate, in the course of the pre-trial preparation, the judge appointed the consideration of the claim on September 25.

She added that Oleg Orlov had presented his objections on the claim. "From the viewpoint of the law, we have quite good prospects," said Ms Stavitskaya. "There are no grounds to satisfy the claim," the ITAR-TASS quotes.

Mr Orlov said that at the trial he would not refuse from "none of his uttered word."

As stated by Andrei Krasnenkov, Kadyrov's advocate, his client is still demanding from the human rights activist to apologize and pay compensation of moral damage in the sum of 10 million roubles, the Radio Liberty reports.

He has also stated that he was sure that the GUVD of Moscow would initiate a criminal case against Mr Orlov under the article of "slander".