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Kadyrov's Spokesman Wants Russian Opposition Leader Prosecuted


Russian opposition activist Ilya Yashin has said that he is ready to defend in court "every word" in his report on Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
Russian opposition activist Ilya Yashin has said that he is ready to defend in court "every word" in his report on Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

A spokesman for Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya, says he has officially asked Russian prosecutors to open a criminal case against an opposition leader for "inciting ethnic and religious discord."

Alvi Karimov said on March 14 that the February report by Ilya Yashin, deputy chairman of the Parnas party, on the situation in Chechnya contained "blatant lies, insults, and unfounded accusations" against Kadyrov.

The report said that Kadyrov was ruling over his own "Chechen caliphate" in which he "bathes in luxury, elevates elements of Shar'ia law over Russian law, and is building up his own military might."

President Vladimir Putin has relied on Kadyrov to stabilize Chechnya after two separatist wars, making him effectively immune from federal control.

Yashin said on March 14 that he was ready to defend in court "every word" in his report.

With reporting by Interfax

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