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Chechen Leader Denounces Protest Organizers As Enemies Of Russia


Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov casts his vote in Russian parliamentary elections at a polling station in Grozny on December 4.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov casts his vote in Russian parliamentary elections at a polling station in Grozny on December 4.
KISLOVODSK, Russia -- The leader of Russia's Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, has denounced as enemies of Russia the activists who have organized protests over the country's disputed December elections for the State Duma lower house of parliament.

RFE/RL's Russian Service reports that Kadyrov, speaking to journalists in the city of Kislovodsk in the Russian North Caucasus, said that if he had the power he would have arrested all the organizers of the "For Fair Elections" protests.

Kadyrov called one of the organizers, Aleksei Navalny, "a smart, trained, and strong agent of a secret service."

Opposition groups in Russia say they plan to hold further demonstrations across Russia on February 4 to protest the December elections, which have been marred by allegations of fraud, and to repeat their demands for a new vote.
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