At Kadyrov-vs-Orlov litigation, witnesses of the prosecution were interrogated

The party of the prosecution in the case initiated by President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov against Oleg Orlov, head of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", accused of slander, has summoned several witnesses to the session of the Khamovniki Court of Moscow, who stated that there were no grounds to accuse Kadyrov of any prejudiced attitude to human rights defenders.

The first to evidence was Aset Malsagova, head of the office of the Public Chamber of Chechnya. She said that she was Natalia Estemirova's friend and contacted her rather often, since they worked in one sphere but in different organizations. The witness has noted that she is still bewailing Natalia's death.

"There are no grounds to suspect Ramzan Kadyrov of involvement in this crime. Natasha had never mentioned any threats addressed from him to her. In the course of numerous meetings of public activists with the head of Chechnya, I never heard any threats addressed to anybody, although he expressed some criticism of activists' actions, but these were just practical issues," Ms Malsagova has noted.

When asked about her opinion about Orlov's assertions that President of Chechnya was guilty of what happened, Malsagova said: "I'm not authorized to defend highest officials of the Chechen Republic and perceive Orlov's words as pronounced in temper. Accusing Kadyrov of prejudiced attitude to human rights activists is the same as accusing the head of any other region."

Witness Malsagova recollected that Kadyrov had really named human rights activists "shaitans"; however, she noted that he had meant just their isolation from real life. In the course of interrogation she also recollected that Kadyrov also used the word "shaitans" in relation to militants.

When interrogated by Genry Reznik, Orlov's advocate, Aset Malsagova admitted that Estemirova could be killed by some dishonest law enforcers, who came after the war to work in various power agencies. However, she emphasized that if it was even so, the crime had been committed not upon Kadyrov's knowledge, but "by their own understanding."

The court has also interrogated Olkhazar Zubairaev, head of the analytical division of the Chechen Ombudsman's office. He said that he had known Natalia Estemirova since 1996, and since 2005 he was closely linked with her by work and often visited her as a guest.

According to his story, the rights defender had felt no threat to her life, and last summer she brought her daughter to Grozny for vacations.

"Natasha's death was our tragedy, but we have no grounds to accuse anybody. Oleg Orlov did it, and he said not about Kadyrov's moral responsibility, but directly used the word 'murderer'. Also, he had offended the Ombudsman in Chechnya by calling him 'the so-called Ombudsman." Although this person has suffered a lot himself. He was kidnapped twice during the war," said Mr Zubairaev.

The witness is inclined to impose responsibility for Estemirova's death on members of illegal armed formations, since he knows that there are already suspects in the case.

Oleg Orlov believes that evidences of the witnesses invited by Kadyrov's representative can be perceived ambiguously. "A number of arguments in the evidences of the prosecution's witnesses are more likely to my favour than against me. When my turn to speak comes, I'll give the details," Oleg Orlov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

After the session, Andrei Krasnenkov, Kadyrov's representative, spoke negatively about employees of the HRC "Memorial".

"They speak about militants' rights; however, they fail to defend their victims and condemn militants. Even my old friends, who know the litigation process only by media publications, say: 'We know what 'Memorial' is. They are same Chechens, only on the other side, that is, militants.' My friend who had read articles in several websites, told this to me," Mr Krasnenkov said.