Kadyrov voices threats to Venediktov in connection with poll on "Echo Moskvy"

Today, the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has accused Alexei Venediktov, the editor-in-chief of the "Echo Moskvy" Radio, of intent to insult Muslims, and said that "there are those who will bring Venediktov to account."

Kadyrov made this statement in connection with the opinion poll conducted by the website of "Echo Moskvy" on whether editions should publish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in response to the terror act at the office of the French weekly "Charlie Hebdo". 57 percent of respondents said that cartoons should be published; 41 percent were against; and the remaining 2 percent found it difficult to answer.

According to Kadyrov, the conducted poll indicates that "Venediktov has long ago converted the 'Echo Moskvy' into the main anti-Islamic horn."

"I'm firmly confident that the authorities must call to order the radio that incites animosity and hatred among people and nations. Otherwise, there will be people to make Venediktov responsible," the head of Chechnya wrote in his Instagram today.

In his turn, Alexei Venediktov promised to turn to law enforcement bodies in connection with Ramzan Kadyrov's statement. In his opinion, the editorial policy of the "Echo" is balanced, professional and equidistant from interests of various groups, political parties and confessions.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 8, Ramzan Kadyrov declared former Yukos boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky his personal enemy. This statement was made after Khodorkovsky had called to publish Prophet Muhammad cartoons in response to the terror attack at the "Charlie Hebdo" office.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.