Novaya Gazeta Republishes Muratov’s Criticism of Kadyrov and Medvedev over Chechen Fighters in Ukraine; Pro‑Kremlin Channels Respond

A regional news outlet reported that Novaya Gazeta has republished comments by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov in which he criticized Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and senior Russian officials, including Dmitry Medvedev, over their roles in sending fighters to Ukraine. The article says Muratov revisited public statements made in 2022 and questioned the impact and legality of those declarations amid the ongoing conflict.

According to the report, Muratov recalled remarks attributed to Kadyrov from early March 2022, noting that the Chechen leader explicitly discussed mobilizing and sending fighters to the front. Novaya Gazeta’s account, as quoted by the regional site, framed those statements as evidence of Kadyrov’s active involvement in deploying personnel to the Luhansk and Donetsk areas. Muratov is reported to have argued that such public pronouncements contributed to the broader dynamics of the war and merited scrutiny.

The republished material sparked immediate reaction in pro‑Kremlin and Chechen online spaces. The report says multiple Chechen Telegram channels amplified the passage and launched a wave of criticism against Muratov. The coverage highlights that a number of commentators accused the journalist and Nobel laureate of mischaracterizing Kadyrov’s statements and of political bias.

One individual singled out in the response was Alexander Lapin, identified in the report as a former police colonel. The article says Lapin’s comments were circulated widely on Telegram and used to attack Muratov’s credibility. The regional site suggested these responses formed part of a coordinated media push to push back against Muratov’s portrayal of Kadyrov and other Russian officials.

The original statements by Kadyrov that Muratov cited were reproduced in the report. In Chechen, the passage reads: "Сайга хаьттича, ас цкъа хьалха Луганск, Донецк цӀанйийр йара, тӀаккха кхин дIа болх бийр бара. ДIахьедийр дара, цхьа йолахо Украинехь хилахь, тактикан зарратан тохар билгалчу меттигашкахь дан деза, цаьрга забарш ца йайта". The regional site used this quote as the basis for reporting on both Muratov’s critique and the subsequent public responses.

Beyond the immediate online dispute, the report noted discussion in local media about Kadyrov’s political positioning. It said some pro‑Kremlin outlets had floated the idea of nominating Kadyrov for broader political roles, and that he had attended regional parliamentary sessions and later traveled to Moscow to participate in party events. The coverage framed those activities as part of an ongoing effort to consolidate Kadyrov’s political profile at both the regional and federal levels.

The story as carried by the regional site was presented without formal comment from Novaya Gazeta’s editorial office in the piece, and the report included a link to the original material. The item concludes with the outlet’s standard footer crediting Маршо Радио as the distributor of the report.

The episode underscores continuing tensions between independent journalists and powerful regional actors in Russia. Muratov’s prominence as a Nobel laureate and former editor of a major independent newspaper has made him a high‑visibility target for criticism when he addresses the conduct of regional leaders. At the same time, the swift reaction from Chechen Telegram channels and pro‑government commentators illustrates the persistent online pressures and reputational attacks that journalists face when covering politically sensitive topics related to the Ukraine conflict and Russia’s domestic politics.

Observers of press freedom will note that exchanges like this—where independent reporting prompts immediate and organized pushback—form part of a broader pattern of contested information environments in which journalists, particularly those who have criticized regional or national authorities, are subject to sustained online criticism and reputational campaigns.