Kadyrov urges Georgian leadership to publicly apologize for insulting Putin on Rustavi 2 TV channel
MOSCOW. July 8 (Interfax) - Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov thinks that Georgian journalist Giorgi Gabunia, who insulted Russian President Vladimir Putin, should be identified as a defendant of the criminal case, while the Georgian authorities should offer public apologies.
"This is not the Russian president, but the Russian people in general and each Russian citizen personally who were insulted. The president and the prime minister of Georgia should immediately offer official and public apologies to the Russian president and the Russian Federation," Kadyrov wrote on Telegram on Monday.
The Chechen head believes that a criminal case should be opened against Gabunia for statements "insulting the Russian top official and defaming the honor and dignity of the Russian citizen."
"We cannot constantly pretend not to notice Georgia's deliberately hostile undertakings. Therefore, the toughest sanctions, which will not affect Georgians who are Russian citizens, should be imposed on that country," Kadyrov said.
"The TV channel's top management could not fail to know the journalist's intentions," this is why this incident ought to be evaluated as a thoroughly orchestrated action by Georgia, "should the opposite be proved by the country's authorities," he said.
On Sunday evening the host of the Post Scriptum program on Rustavi 2, Giorgi Gabunia, made offensive remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin. The remarks were condemned by Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili and Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze as being provocative.
In Russia, both the Kremlin and the Foreign Ministry also condemned Gabunia's remarks. Members of the State Duma Council shared the opinion that the Georgian journalist should be held criminally liable and will seek his extradition to Russia.