Kadyrov supports "Rosgvardia" boss' challenge to Navalny

Victor Zolotov, the head of the "Rosgvardia" (Russian National Guard) is defending the honour of his organization by inviting the oppositionist Alexei Navalny to a duel, said Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya.

Mr Zolotov has recorded a video message to Alexei Navalny after the latter's Anti-Corruption Fund (known as the FBK) issued a reports about the investigation on possible thefts in the purchase of foodstuffs for "Rosgvardia" employees.

"In my relation, you've made insulting and slanderous statements; and it's customary among officers not to just forgive abuses. From time immemorial, a scoundrel received a slap in the face and invited to a duel. Mr Navalny, no one prevents us from returning at least part of these traditions, I mean satisfaction. I just challenge you to a duel – in the boxing ring, on tatami, anywhere, where I promise to make a good juicy chop out of you," Victor Zolotov said in his video message posted today on the "Rosgvardia" website.

The head of Chechnya has supported the challenge. "There's a fight for saving one's life; and there's a fight to defend one's honour. Victor Zolotov, the Director of the Federal Troops Service of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, knows it as an officer; and today he made a right move, by defending his honour, the honour of the whole staff of 'Rosgvardia', the honour of his state, by inviting the scoundrel to a duel," Kadyrov wrote today in his Telegram channel.

As of 10:10 p.m. Moscow time on September 11, there were no comments on Zolotov's statements in the video blog of Alexei Navalny on the YouTube.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 11, 2018 at 10:12 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.