Nurdi Nukhazhiev failed to appear at Kadyrov-versus-Orlov trial

Today, the Khamovniki Court of Moscow continued the trial under the slander claim lodged by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov against Oleg Orlov, head of the HRC "Memorial". The court listened to evidences of Tamara Kagirova, a member of the Public Chamber of Chechnya. The other declared witness of the prosecution - Human Rights Ombudsman Nurdi Nukhazhiev - failed to appear in the courtroom.

As reported today before the session by Andrei Krasnenkov, representative of the prosecution, one of the witnesses announced during the previous session - Chechen Ombudsman Nurdi Nukhazhiev - failed to arrive. Mr Krasnenkov said that Nukhazhiev "did not want to come to the courtroom, and now the court only can ensure his appearance." "If a need arises, he will be brought by the militia," said Krasnenkov.

Genry Reznik, Orlov's advocate, said that no freedom restriction measure was appointed for Orlov, since any restriction, apart from imprisonment, shall be elected with the defendant's consent. The prosecutor did not insist on his recognizance not to leave.

Later, the session interrogated Tamara Kagirova, a witness of the prosecution, a member of the Public Chamber of Chechnya. She said that she is working in a public organization engaged in searching missing people, and that she saw Natalia Estemirova a few days before her murder. They collaborated on the issue of abducted and missing persons.

Mr Kagirova said that the problem is not solved; we need a special commission and setting up of a DNA lab, but it will need Russia's president will. The witness reported that none of their common acquaintances, those who had turned to her and Estemirova had ever suspected Kadyrov of involvement in the murder, because she herself had never told anyone about these threats.

She noted that at rights defenders meetings with Kadyrov Estemirova asked no questions; she just wrote down something and left. Kagirova's son was kidnapped in 2003; she could not find help in searching him among law enforcement bodies and human rights organizations; therefore, she decided to create her own organization. According to the witnesses, Kadyrov helps in solving the problems raised by human rights activists. In addition, she noted that Chechnya is now a completely safe place to live and work.