Russia: Court Clears Rights Activist Orlov But Kadyrov Is Appealing Decision
Posted by Info on 25/06/2011
A Moscow district court acquitted on 14 june 2011 the head of Russia’s major Human Rights NGO, Memorial, Oleg Orlov, of slandering the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov.
The judge ruled that Orlov’s statement of Kadyrov’s involvement in the abduction and murder of Chechen activist Natalia Estemirova were not slander, but rather an evaluation and Orlov never suggested Kadyrov’s personal involvement in the crime, but spoke only of general responsibility.
The verdict also stated that the aggrieved party failed to prove the direct intent of the suspect which, according to the Russian law is a qualifying feature of slander.
The lawyer for Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has appealed the court verdict.
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