Rights defenders see real danger in Ramzan Kadyrov's threats

Subordinates of Ramzan Kadyrov have perceived his statements about rights defenders as a signal to actions, and that means journalists and rights defenders, disliked by Ramzan Kadyrov, are under threat even outside the republic. That was stated by rights defenders Igor Kalyapin and Svetlana Gannushkina.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Ramzan Kadyrov condemned rights defenders who criticized the police activities after the attacks on policemen committed on August 20. The Chechen leader put rights defenders on a par with militants and said he forbade them to visit Chechnya.

The statement voiced by the leader of Chechnya should be perceived as a threat, notes Igor Kalyapin, the chairman of the Committee against Torture.

He believes that the Ramzan Kadyrov's statements may pose a real threat to rights defenders working in Northern Caucasus, even outside of Chechnya.

"Unfortunately, Ramzan Kadyrov has fans ready to commit any crime in order to serve him," Igor Kalyapin has explained.

Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the Civic Assistance Committee, believes that "everything that the leader of Chechnya says can be taken as a threat."

Among the Ramzan Kadyrov's subordinates, "there are a lot of people who are ready to read a signal," noted the rights defender. Svetlana Gannushkina has also recalled that Chechen rights defender Natalia Estemirova was killed precisely after the Ramzan Kadyrov's threats.