"Memorial" employees evidence at Orlov vs. Kadyrov slander litigation

The today's session at the Khamovniki Court of Moscow, considering the criminal case against Oleg Orlov, head of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" in connection with his statements about responsibility of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov for the murder of Natalia Estemirova began more than half an hour later, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports, because the judge had been considering another case.

At the beginning of the session, Kadyrov's representative Andrei Krasnenkov said that he would like to recall his petition for a repeated linguistic examination on the case. The defendant's advocate Genry Reznik did not object.

Then, the prosecutor reminded that, contrary to the rules, it is not possible so far to question the victim in the case. It was therefore decided to start interrogating the witnesses of the defence.

Igor Orlov, system administrator of the "Memorial" was the first to answer. He, according to advocate Reznik, is a neutral witness. However, in the opinion of the prosecution, Igor Orlov, like Svetlana Gannushkina and Alexander Cherkasov, are the defence witnesses. Genry Reznik called this approach as incorrect.

The witness explained that on the day of Estemirova's murder he received by Skype a press release on Estemirova's death from Yulia Klimova, press secretary of the "Memorial"; without reading it and without making changes, he posted the text on the website. On this, questioning of this witness was over.

Yulia Klimova, press secretary of the "Memorial", was invited next. The right to question her was initially granted to the prosecution. Klimova explained that at about noon on July 15, 2009, it became known that Estemirova had been kidnapped; and a few hours later it became known that she was assassinated.

"Natalia was one of our best employees. She was the soul of the 'Memorial' in Grozny. Entering Mr Orlov's office on that day, I heard fragments of conversations. Orlov imposed responsibility for Natalia's death on Ramzan Kadyrov. Then, Oleg Orlov made a statement for the media, I recorded it, he checked, and I sent out the text according to our mailing list. After Orlov checked the text, it was not changed," said Klimova.

She noted that on the day of the murder and in subsequent days Orlov and other employees of the organization "were in terrible psychological condition." "There was shock and stress. It was the only time when I saw Orlov smoking. Natalia had been for many years a sort of a family member, a close friend of Orlov and other employees of the 'Memorial', said Klimova.

After her interrogation, Svetlana Gannushkina, head of the "Civil Assistance" Committee was summoned. At that time, Mr Reznik was first to question.

Ms Gannushkina noted that she had met Estemirova in Vladikavkaz two days before her murder, on July 13, 2009, to attend a meeting with the UN High Commissioner. Then, they both went to Grozny and there - in the office of the "Memorial" held a meeting with all employees of the organization from Chechnya and Ingushetia.

According to the witnesses, the point was the meeting of the Ombudsman in Chechnya Nurdi Nukhazhiev with the head of the Grozny branch of the HRC "Memorial" Shahman Akbulatov.

"Akbulatov said that Nukhazhiev reproached him that the 'Memorial' saw only negative phenomena in the republic. It was clear that this was a threat and a warning. The pretext for that was in the information about a public execution in the village of Akhkinchu-Borzoi, which Natalia gave to journalists on her own behalf. Even for Chechnya, a murder in the square, with many people present, was unprecedented. We knew that Natasha should be taken away from Chechnya; and we were going to do it in a week. However, we were late," said Gannushkina.

Let us note here that earlier Alexander Cherkasov, a board member of the HRC "Memorial", said that Natalia Estemirova could be killed for her investigation of the public execution in the village of Akhkinchu-Borzoi.

Svetlana Gannushkina also told the court about several murders and kidnappings in Chechnya committed before Estemirova's murder, which Natalia dealt with.

Mr Krasnenkov tried to interrupt the witness, but the judge allowed her to continue.

"Our logic was like that: Ramzan Kadyrov in Chechnya is a sort of tsar and god. Nurdi Nukhazhiev his boss of all human rights defenders. Therefore, it was to Nukhazhiev that Kadyrov expressed claims that the unwanted information about killings and abductions was leaking outside. Then, Nukhazhiev expressed a sort of a threat or a warning, and in a few days Estemirova was killed. Oleg Orlov expressed our common collegial position that Kadyrov is responsible for what is happening in Chechnya, including for Estemirova's murder," said Svetlana Gannushkina.

She noted that Estemirova gave information to the press on her behalf, which was very dangerous.