Chechen ruler says Russia's protest leaders should be imprisoned as ‘enemies of the people’

Ramzan Kadyrov, the autocratic head of Russia's Chechen Republic, has declared that representatives of Russia's protest movement—the so-called “extra-systemic opposition”—should be treated as “enemies of the people” and “traitors.” 

Kadyrov made these remarks at a press conference on January 12 dedicated to Russia's Press Day, which is observed on January 13.

According to the Chechen ruler, oppositionists “shamelessly try to pretend they are concerned about the future of our country,” while they actually “dance to the tune” of intelligence agencies in the West.

Kadyrov also said journalists in the “liberal media” have showed a “heightened interest” in Chechnya because they are uncomfortable with the region's “successful development” and the rising well-being of its people.

“[...] I believe that these people need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent [of the law] for subversive activities,” Kadyrov said.