Orlov / Kadyrov: Moscow court ruling upheld

On 21 January 2010 the Moscow City court heard cassation appeals on the civil suit brought by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov against the Memorial Human Rights Centre and Oleg Orlov. Appeals against the ruling of the Tverskoy District Court in Moscow on 6 October 2009 were lodged by both parties.

The panel of judges, after a short chamber meeting, upheld the ruling, rejecting both appeals.

The parties may within six months issue nadzorniye appeals [after a ruling has come into force] first to the Presidium of the Moscow City Court, then to the RF Supreme Court.

Since the Tverskoy Court’s ruling is a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, Memorial intends to lodge an application with the European Court of Human Rights.

As reported, the civil suit was over a statement issued by Oleg Orlov on the evening of the day that human rights defender Natalya Estemirova was abducted and murdered. Orlov said that Kadyrov bore political responsibility for the death of Natalya Estemirova since the enforcement structures subordinate to Kadyrov violate human rights in Chechnya and that there is an atmosphere of fear in the republic (http://khpg.org.ua/en/index.php?id=1247712855).

Details about the court hearings in October speak for themselves: khpg.org/index.php?id=1254897081