Kadyrov answers to Sobchak's demands in Titiev's case

The appeal of Ksenia Sobchak to release Oyub Titiev, the head of the Chechen branch of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", makes no sense, since this is beyond the competence of the head of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 16, Ms Sobchak, a TV presenter and a candidate for Russia's presidency, demanded to release Oyub Titiev. In her Instagram, she urged the Russian authorities to prove "that Chechnya is still Russia."

"I am neither a judge, nor a prosecutor, and nor the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), I am the head of the republic; I have no authority to release or detain anyone," Kadyrov said in an interview with the Daily Storm, calling Sobchak stupid.

However, Ksenia Sobchak did not believe in Kadyrov's sincerity about Titiev.

"I've not a slightest illusion on who makes such decisions," she wrote in her Instagram.

The political analysts, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot", believe that Sobchak's statement about Titiev will not add votes to her at the election, and will not affect the choice of residents of Northern Caucasus.

Ramzan Kadyrov has several times spoken about the use of drugs by Titiev, said Aslan, an activist of a public organization.

On January 23, Kadyrov himself said that international structures are interested in the fate of a "drug addict," detained in Chechnya.