Chechen TV channels convince viewers that certain forces murdered Estemirova to blacken Kadyrov

In Chechnya, TV channels are quoting, in their news programmes, the authorities of the republic, who keep asserting that the murder of human rights defender Natalia Estemirova was backed by certain forces willing to blacken the peoples of Chechnya and Ingushetia and Ramzan Kadyrov personally.

On July 16, the Grozny-prepared news programme on the GTRK Channel reported that the body of kidnapped Natalia Estemirova was found in Ingushetia. Then, the news reporter announced Ramzan Kadyrov's comments, which were quoted with his photo in the screen.

"This murder has a cynical and demonstrative character. It was committed with the aim to blacken the peoples of Chechnya and Ingushetia in the opinion of Russian and global community. The organizers and executors of this crime are of greater danger than terrorists and Wahhabites, who shed blood of thousands of innocent people. And I state here that I'll personally supervise the investigation of this crime. And I'll attract the best forces to open it, and I'll do everything to bring it to the end," the TV reporter quoted Kadyrov.

Then, in the same manner, the statement of the Ombudsman in Chechnya Nurdi Nukhazhiev was announced, which was already published in the official website of the President and Government of Chechnya. A news was then announced that the Ombudsman would defend the rights of President Ramzan Kadyrov as a citizen of the Russian Federation and apply to the Prosecutor's Office in the context of Oleg Orlov's statements.

On July 17, in the programme "Vesti Chechni" (Chechen News) in the "Vainakh" TV Channel, in the same manner the reporter announced the statement of Dukuvakhi Abdurakhmanov, Speaker of the Parliament. "This is a crime with a brightly expressed provocative character. It's a heaviest crime; and nobody remained indifferent. Some Estemirova's colleagues in the 'Memorial' have reacted inadequately and put forward unfounded charges. We bewail the death of Estemirova, but we're bewildered with the statements of human rights activists against our President. These are miserable attempts of those who would like reanimating a seat of tension in the region. But their efforts are vain," Mr Abdurakhmanov has stated.

In the same programme, another Nurdi Nukhazhiev's statement was announced: "Should the 'Memorial' decide to close its branch in Grozny, it will be only for the good of bandits and killers. If it happens, it's worth regret. But we, human rights activists, all the same will work in future in the area of human rights defence, either with the 'Memorial' or without."

On July 17, on the GTRK TV Channel, in the programme "Mezhdu Tem" (In the Meantime) reporter Timur Aliev, former editor of the newspaper "Chechen Society", gave his comment on the murder of the human rights defender: "Estemirova's murder was committed by some other party, probably, by militants, in order to blacken Ramzan Kadyrov."