Kadyrov's statement on buying his horse from foreign law enforcers raises lawyers' questions

The version presented by Ramzan Kadyrov about the ransom of his horse with the help of Ukrainian special services and the Czech police causes doubts and is contrary to the Criminal Code, lawyers have pointed out. Kadyrov's story looks plausible, Svetlana Gannushkina*, a rights defender, and Akhmet Yarlykapov, a Caucasian scholar, have noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 8, Kadyrov said that the cost of his Zazu stallion stolen in the Czech Republic was not USD 18,000, as the Czech police had reported, but USD 10 million. On May 15, he stated that Zazu had been ransomed with the help of Ukrainian special services for USD 18,000; and on May 17, he boasted that he had not given the horse ransom to Ukrainians. According to his version, "agents of Ukrainian special services" were left without the promised fee, because they "sorted out relations among themselves" at the time of the transfer of the horse to Kadyrov's people, and the latter "simply took the horse without paying any money."

USD 18,000 is too little for such an operation, Evgeny Chernousov, a retired colonel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and a lawyer, is sure. Besides, such operations are carried out in secret, he has added.

Svetlana Gannushkina*, the head of the "Civic Assistance" Committee*, does not rule out that Kadyrov could have cooperated with Ukrainian special services and Czech law enforcers for the sake of his horse.

Galina Tarasova, a lawyer, believes that Kadyrov's statement can be checked for the fact giving a bribe to a foreign official. However, according to her story, no one in Russia will check Kadyrov's words.

Let us remind you that Kadyrov is openly spending money on his expensive hobby at a time when Chechnya is among the leaders in terms of federal support.