We are great, and they are scoundrels

The lawyer of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov (remember, out of great modesty, he asked not to call him president anymore), Andrei Krasnenkov, said on September 13 at the magistrate’s station of the Khamovniki court that he would make public information that human rights activist Natalya Estemirova, who was killed last year, “made up falsified complaints about the fate of one of the militants,” who was defended by the Human Rights Center “Memorial.” Krasnenkov also said that he would present information to Interpol on the work of the center in Chechnya. He plans to present these supposedly sensational facts as part of a criminal case against the head of the center, Oleg Orlov, who is accused of slandering Kadyrov. Let us recall that Orlov said that Kadyrov bears political responsibility for the death of Estemirova. Orlov himself told Kommersant that he had no idea what they were talking about.

As Kommersant writes, Orlov’s lawyer Henry Reznik demanded that the prosecutor clarify whether Kadyrov’s client called him the customer or the perpetrator of the crime. The prosecutor replied that from Orlov’s words it could follow that Kadyrov was the organizer of the crime. Orlov, meanwhile, has repeatedly stated that the head of the republic is responsible for everything that happens on the territory under his jurisdiction, and it is in this sense that his words should be understood. Let us recall that Kadyrov once said that he even knew what was being said in Grozny minibuses.

Prosecution witnesses questioned in the Khamovnichesky court stated that Kadyrov did not feel any hostility towards Estemirova. It is known, however, that in an interview published after her death, he called her a person without honor and conscience. The head of the apparatus of the Public Chamber of Chechnya, Aminat Malsagova, said that Estemirova never complained about threats from the Chechen authorities. There is, however, evidence from human rights activists and journalists about both direct and indirect threats through third parties. According to human rights activists, when Estemirova’s words appeared in a TV report loyal to Kadyrov that she did not think it was right that girls were forced to wear headscarves in public places, Kadyrov called her to his place and shouted: “I have blood on my hands up to my elbows, I killed and I will kill, but I kill the enemies of the Chechen people.” It was obvious to Estemirova’s friends and colleagues that Kadyrov considered her almost his personal enemy. In particular, Kadyrov, being dissatisfied with Estemirova’s activities, in particular, asked her whether she lived alone with her child and how old her daughter was. Then friends persuaded Estemirova to leave Chechnya for a while. This was about a year before her death.

The head of the analytical department of the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Chechnya, Olkhazar Zubairaev, suggested in court that Estemirova was not kidnapped in Grozny - they say that she went to Ingushetia on her business and was killed there (Estemirova’s body was actually found on the territory of Ingushetia, but her colleagues are convinced , that the murder was committed in Chechnya). Meanwhile, there are people who saw Estemirova being kidnapped near a bus stop in Grozny.

As for lawyer Krasnenkov himself, lawyer Reznik filed a motion to remove him from the process, since he was interrogated as part of the investigation, which means he cannot represent the interests of one of the parties. The court deliberated on this topic for two whole hours and rejected the petition.