Virtual debate of "Novaya Gazeta" with Kadyrov triggers reaction of Russian authorities

Ramzan Kadyrov's words about the ban on rights defenders from visiting Chechnya do not apply to all of them, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president, has explained.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Kadyrov had called the rights defenders, who criticized the police's actions after a series of attacks on law enforcers, enemies of Chechnya. He equated the rights defenders to militants, announcing that he forbids them to visit Chechnya.

Kadyrov's words about the ban on rights defenders to visit Chechnya have been taken out of context, said Mikhail Fedotov, the Chairman of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights under the Russian President.

"Chechnya operates, under the republic's leader, the council for the development of civil society and human rights; and it includes notable Chechen rights defenders; therefore, it is incorrect to say that Chechnya may become a closed zone for rights defenders," the Russian Public Television quotes Mr Fedotov as saying.

Today, the editorial board of the "Novaya Gazeta" has jokingly asked the Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin to introduce a "symmetric ban" on Kadyrov from visiting the Russian capital. The appeal notes that the head of Chechnya had appealed to the publication of the "Novaya Gazeta" about the August 20 attacks.

In his turn, the Kadyrov's press secretary said in response that there are things that serious editions cannot afford even in a joking manner. At the same time, he explained that the head of Chechnya had in mind only false rights defenders.

Kadyrov himself suggested that journalists take a sedative.