Kadyrov recalls his suits against Orlov, Alekseeva and journalists

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has recalled, after his mother's appeal, his suits against Oleg Orlov, head of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", Liudmila Alekseeva, chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group, and a group of Moscow journalists. Alvi Karimov, Kadyrov's press secretary, denies that the mother asked to stop prosecution of human rights activists under Kadyrov's request.

"His mother addressed Ramzan several times on this issue saying that the respondents are people of certain age, and the Chechen society doesn't favour one's disputing with older persons, even if they might be wrong. Besides, recently Kadyrov received appeals from many public figures, who also urged him to withdraw his claims," Mr Karimov explained as quoted by the "Gazeta.Ru".

He also denied the Oleg Orlov's version that the request of Aimani Kadyrova to her son was initiated by Kadyrov himself: "It's totally wrong. Kadyrov is absolutely confident of his rightness, same as his lawyers and advocates. The point is that the man has made a step towards his opponents", the "Echo Moskvy" Radio reports.