HRC "Memorial" reports about Kadyrov's threats

The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" regards the words pronounced on July 3 by President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov in his interview to the "Grozny" TV Channel as a direct and obvious threat addressed to the Centre. Mr Kadyrov named the people involved in the "Memorial" as enemies of the people, enemies of the law and enemies of the state.

"In the present Chechnya this public statement of the Chechen President is a direct and obvious threat," runs the statement of the HRC "Memorial" that has arrived to the office of the "Caucasian Knot".

In the opinion of human rights defenders, the local officials and law enforcers will perceive Kadyrov's words as an instruction to start acting against the "Memorial" and its employees. "Some of them can take the words of their leader as announcement of 'Memorial' workers to be outlaws with all the consequences," the HRC "Memorial" has stated.

"It turns out that Orlov (Chairman of the Board of the HRC "Memorial" Oleg Orlov, - comment of the "Caucasian Knot") is a greater patriot of my republic than I am? Is he standing for my republic? I've lost everything. My relatives were killed. Be it Orlov, or a woman and a man from the Gudermes-based 'Memorial' or someone else… - what have they done for the republic? They receive large salaries from the West, and to report on their activities they write all sorts of muck and nonsense in the Internet. Therefore, they're no opponents for me. They are enemies of the people, enemies of the law and enemies of the state," said Kadyrov.

The HRC "Memorial" also notes that the Kadyrov's interview was a demonstration of infringement of women's rights in Chechnya, as he openly approved shooting paint at women without headscarves. Human rights activists find these actions of unidentified persons to be lawless, while Kadyrov promised in his interview "to thank them officially" when he finds them.

This Kadyrov's statement, same as the words about the "Memorial" and human rights activists, contribute to excitation of hatred and practice of illegal violence in the Chechen Republic, human rights defenders believe.