Chechen administration denies pressuring courts, judges
MOSCOW. May 16 (Interfax) - The Chechen administration has denied the accusations of pressure on the judicial administration in connection with the resignation from his post of Magomed Karatayev, the head of the Chechen Supreme Court.
"Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the republic, only stated his position on the work of some Chechen courts, citing the position of a majority of residents," a source in the republic's administration said in a phone conversation with Interfax on Monday.
"After that, Madomed Karatayev made relevant conclusions," the source said.
On Sunday, Karatayev said he had filed his resignation. This happened after Kadyrov called on the Chechen Supreme Court chairman and three other judges to leave their posts of their own accord on his Instagram on May 5. Some human rights activists took those statements by the head of Chechnya as pressure on the judicial system.
In an interview with local Grozny television, Karatayev admitted the mistakes made by Chechen judges and assumed responsibility for them. "Those were glaring facts of massive violations of the law and I fully assume responsibility for the mistakes made by the judges. After the critical statements by the head of Chechen Republic, I reached the conclusion that I could not properly control the work. I apologize to the head of the republic and the people of Chechnya," Karatayev said.
