Kremlin spokesman defends comments by Chechen ruler who says oppositionists are ‘enemies of the people’

Vladimir Putin's official spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, warned journalists today “not to escalate” the situation surrounding recent remarks by Chechen ruler Ramzan Kadyrov, explaining that his statements “just need to be read calmly.” Last week, Kadyrov called Russia's liberal opposition “enemies of the people” and “traitors.”

According to Peskov, Kadyrov's comments addressed the country's anti-Kremlin protest movement—the so-called “non-systemic opposition”—which functions outside Russia's legitimate politics, he said. “These are the people who operate outside the law and are prepared to break the law, even if it hurts the nation,” Peskov said, explaining that this is how he interprets Kadyrov's remarks.

The Kremlin's spokesman did not clarify whom he considers to be a member of the non-systemic opposition, and he highlighted that President Putin is engaged in dialogue with the representatives of Russia's (legitimate) opposition: the leaders of registered political parties both with and without seats in the parliament.

• On January 12, the head of the Chechen government, Ramzan Kadyrov, declared that members of Russia's protest opposition should be treated as “enemies of the people” and “traitors.” According to the Chechen ruler, oppositionists “shamelessly try to pretend they are concerned about the future of our country,” while they actually “dance to the tune” of intelligence agencies in the West.
• For more on Kadyrov's controversial remarks, see: St. Petersburg city councilman wants Chechen ruler investigated for extremism, ‘Enemies of the people, traitors, and lackeys’: A short guide to Ramzan Kadyrov’s assorted public pronouncement, and Opinion: The risks of Ramzan Kadyrov Why Chechnya’s ruler has returned to Russian airwaves with new hostility