Kadyrov told a television channel in Grozny on July 3 that journalists and Memorial activists who criticize his policies are well paid by the West. He said they were "the enemy of the Chechen people, the enemy of the law and the enemy of the state."

Oleg Orlov, the head of the Memorial, said on Thursday that the statements made by the Chechen so-called "president" could be considered as "a direct and real threat" because they might be interpreted by the republic's law enforcement as a call to action against human rights activists.

Orlov accused Kadyrov in July last year of involvement in the murder of rights activist Natalya Estemirova in the troubled North Caucasus republic.

Estemirova, a leading Memorial researcher in Chechnya, was abducted outside her home in Grozny, Chechnya's capital, on July 15 and found shot dead in the neighboring republic of Ingushetia later the same day.

Her murder, which sparked international outrage, was followed three weeks later by the killings of Zarema Sadulayeva and her husband, Alik Dzhabrailov, who both worked for a Chechen charity.

The Memorial suspended its work in Chechnya following the murders but resumed its activities in December.

MOSCOW, July 9 (RIA Novosti)

Quick Reminder: Words such as "president", "leader", e t.c. using with the name Kadyrov have been taken off or switched to the other words by the ChechenCenter stuff. Mainly, because Ramzan Kadyrov is not president of Chechnya but Kremlin-backed enemy of his nation and traitor who changed his side at the very hard moments for his nation. Thank you and please feel free for any consultation with ChechenCenter stuff. Furthermore, these corrections will be made for the other articles as well.

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