Kadyrov Threatens Margarita Simonyan: 'Consequences May Be Irreversible'

The leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has addressed Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russia Today, following her remarks on social media concerning an incident where a man was beaten in Moscow by a group of Caucasians, as reported by ura.news.

Kadyrov advised her to verify information and warned that constant references to Caucasians in the media could lead to irreversible consequences. “I would also like to remind ‘ethnically Caucasian’ Simonyan that before making statements, the editor-in-chief should check the information and only then draw conclusions and engage in self-promotion on current topics. A whole generation will grow up thinking that the Caucasus is a separate state. You know what tragic consequences await without my input,” Kadyrov stated on his Telegram channel.

He further warned that the ongoing references to Caucasians in the media harm the collective identity. Moreover, according to the Chechen leader, journalists pay special attention to crimes involving Caucasians.

Previously, Simonyan had criticized the Caucasians arriving in Moscow, calling them a “shame.” Following Kadyrov's response, she stated that she would not apologize for her comments. “I would like to draw Kadyrov's attention to the fact that I always check the information before making ‘statements.’ All four individuals arrested for the attack in Watutinki are indeed from the Caucasus. The Caucasus is not just the Chechen Republic, Dagestan, or Ossetia; it includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and much more. Therefore, I have every right to criticize the wrongful behavior of certain representatives of this collective term,” she wrote on her Telegram channel.

Simonyan's statements were related to an incident involving the beating of a man with a child by “four natives from one of the Transcaucasian states.” The incident occurred in New Moscow. The suspects have been detained, and the case is being prepared for submission to the Investigative Committee of Russia.