Kadyrov speaks out against Kremlin's press service in dispute over censorship in arts

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has supported Alexander Zaldostanov, also known as "The Surgeon", the leader of the Russian "Night Wolves" bikers' club, who refused to apologize for his remarks voiced towards Konstantin Raikin, the director of the "Satiricon" Theatre. Meanwhile, Dmitry Peskov, Spokesman for the Russian President, has called on the biker to apologize to Konstantin Raikin.

On October 24, inMoscow, Konstantin Raikin came out against censorship in art, and after that the biker criticized the director's speech by saying that "Raikin and Co. want to turn the country into a gutter". He has added that he intended to defend Russia "from American democracy."

On October 28, Ramzan Kadyrov spoke in support of the biker, who refused to apologize to Konstantin Raikin despite the recommendation of the Kremlin.

"In this issue, I fully support Russian patriot... Alexander Zaldostanov. The Surgeon has expressed his opinion honestly and very frankly. And I do not quite understand how it is possible to require from Zaldostanov to bring an apology for his opinion, which is shared by millions of Russian citizens," wrote Ramzan Kadyrov on Instagram on October 28.

It should be noted that Dmitry Peskov, Spokesman for the Russian President, has called on the biker to apologize for his remarks voiced towards Konstantin Raikin.

"We treat the great talent of Konstantin Raikin with boundless respect, and I believe that it was the devil's work when the biker insulted him. I hope he will apologize," said Dmitry Peskov as quoted by the "Kommersant".

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