Chechen leader's activity raises no questions in Kremlin — administration chief

Russian Politics & Diplomacy January 26, 2016, 16:25

Kadyrov made a controversial statement in which he accused the leaders of Russia's non-systemic opposition of attempting to undermine the country’s political situation.

MOSCOW, January 26. /TASS/. The Kremlin highly rates the activity of Ramzan Kadyrov as the Chechen republic’s head, chief of the Russian presidential administration Sergey Ivanov said on Tuesday.

"As for the activity of the Chechen republic’s head, it raises no questions in the administration of the president," Ivanov told reporters.

Previously, a public outcry in Russia’s media outlets and social media was caused by Kadyrov's statement at a meeting with journalists in Grozny on January 12 in which he accused the leaders of the non-systemic opposition in Russia of attempting to undermine the country’s political situation. After that, representatives of the non-systemic opposition, in particular, demanded that the head of Chechnya resign.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the All-Russian People’s Front (ONF) forum, also praised the work of Kadyrov, saying that "he works effectively."

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the statements made by the head of Chechnya, calling for getting a grasp of their meaning. "As for his [Kadyrov's] statement on the non-system opposition, mind you, he referred to the opposition forces that are outside the legitimate political field of the country - those whose activity is outside the law and who are ready to break it, including to the detriment of the country," he said. "There is no need to whip up tension, it is just necessary to read calmly what he said," according to the Kremlin official.

Previously, Peskov said that the so-called non-system opposition in Russia that is ready to violate the law is not helping to achieve stability and prosperity in the country. "If we talk about those [representatives of non-systemic opposition] who when speaking about political activity say they are ready to go beyond the law on purpose, then of course these are people who at least do not contribute to stability and prosperity of this country," Peskov said on January 20.

At the January 12 meeting with journalists, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov accused the leaders of Russia’s non-system opposition of attempts to undermine the situation in the country. "Such people should be treated as enemies of the people and as traitors. There is nothing sacred with them," Kadyrov said.

In comments to Kadyrov’s statement that caused a public outcry in Russia, Peskov said the Chechen leader spoke about only those members of the opposition whose activity is illegal. "These are those whose activity is not in line with the law and who are ready to violate it, and also to harm the country," Peskov stressed. "One should not whip up tensions and should just read the statement calmly," he said.

Peskov also said Kadyrov had no meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in the past days.

The Kremlin spokesman said that Putin often holds talks with the representatives of both the parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties. "This practice will also continue now. He (Putin) has the dialogue," Peskov said.

Kadyrov later wrote on his page in a social network that he spoke about those people who have left Russia and are throwing mud at the country. "They threaten Russia, go to the United States and the capitals of the European countries, advise what sanctions to introduce to undermine the economy, security and stability in Russia," he said.

"They threaten to return Crimea in 30 seconds. But it is unclear where! I meant exactly them and their henchmen inside the country when speaking on bringing the non-system opposition to justice. This does not concern the legal opposition that raises the social, economic problems, issues of housing services and utilities and others," Kadyrov said.

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