Kadyrov's representative and Orlov's advocate exchange accusations of non-professionalism

Andrei Krasnenkov, who is representing President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov at litigation on slander against Oleg Orlov, head of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", accused Genry Reznik, the latter's advocate of non-professionalism. Otherwise, in Mr Krasnenkov's opinion, Mr Reznik would not have petitioned his challenge. In his turn, Genry Reznik does not believe that Krasnenkov is a professional lawyer and treats his statements as "manifestations of militant ignorance."

"Reznik motivated his petition by the fact that I had been interrogated as a witness; hence, under the law I can't represent the suffered party. However I didn't act as a witness under Kadyrov's petition or of someone of his lawyers," Andrei Krasnenkov said in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

At the stage of preliminary investigation Orlov's freedom was restricted by the recognizance not to leave and appropriate behaviour, Mr Krasnenkov continued: "Reznik had categorically forbidden Orlov to get acquainted with this decision, sign and receive it. And he refused to do it himself."

Thus, as Krasnenkov is sure, Genry Reznik made a roughest violation of the law on lawyer's activities in the Russian Federation, as, in his opinion, in any case - whether he agrees or not - they were obliged to receive this decision.

In his opinion, the freedom restriction measure in the form of recognizance not to leave was rightfully applied to Orlov by inspector Khatchenkova, as at the stage of inquiry held by the Inquiry Division of the Moscow GUVD (Chief Interior Department), the case was suspended twice, because Orlov left Moscow without notifying the inspector.

When Orlov was presented the charge, recollects Andrei Krasnenkov, Genry Reznik was surprised a lot that "the case was not closed, as Ramzan Ahmatovich had pardoned Orlov." "But in fact Reznik is a lawyer of supreme category; and he should have known that such cases are not closed by themselves: a certain procedure exists," notes Krasnenkov.

Genry Reznik believes that a political component is very strong in this case; and the judge should have removed Krasnenkov from the case. "He was interrogated as a witness; nobody knows who had invited him. There are evidences of the victim; and there are evidences of the witness. Krasnenkov was not recognized as a victim. He was interrogated under the procedure of a witness," said Mr Reznik.

He is convinced that Krasnenkov has put Kadyrov in an unpleasant situation, because the criminal case was initiated not under Kadyrov's application, but under Krasnenkov's one.

"Now, Kadyrov doesn't want to litigate with anybody. It should been explained to him that if the claim goes under the civil-legal procedure, the recall of the claim stops the case. While a slander case under parts 2 and 3 is a case of public accusation. Therefore, even Kadyrov's statement that he would not like this litigation, may form the basis for termination of the case," said Reznik.