GROZNY, July 17 (RIA Novosti) - Chechen...

Estemirova, who had been investigating kidnappings and disappearances in Chechnya for the Russian human rights group Memorial, was abducted and murdered on Wednesday in the south Russian republic.

In a radio interview the following day, the director of Memorial said Kadyrov had personally threatened Estemirova over her work, and that people subordinate to the Chechen leader had murdered her.

"The president"s lawyer, Andrei Krasnenkov, will file a lawsuit to defend the honor, integrity and business reputation of the president of the Chechen Republic in regard to a statement made by the director of the Memorial center, Oleg Orlov, accusing the president of murdering the human rights activist Natalya Estemirova," the spokesman said.

He said the claim would be filed in Moscow, where Memorial is registered, and that a statement on the slander allegations would be submitted the Moscow police department.

In a statement published on Memorial"s website on Wednesday,

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