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Russian Prosecutor General’s Office Won't 'Weaken Grip' After Navalny's Film

Yury Chaika

Russia's Prosecutor General Yury Chaika gave an interview to the state-run Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper Tuesday and said his office wouldn't “weaken its grip” because of “information attacks” on it, referring to the investigative film released by Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), that alleged Chaika's family was involved in various illegal activities.

“Those who are making these information attacks hope that the Prosecutor General's Office will weaken its grip … It won't. We will not change the priorities of our work, no matter who tries to force us to do it,” he said.

Chaika added that the office is currently battling those who are trying to elicit “legal chaos” in the country. “Trust me, we have the leverage to face any challenges,” he said.

After FBK released the “Chaika” film, the Prosecutor General claimed that British-American investor Bill Browder and the U.S. secret services were behind the film and said opposition leader Navalny “played a humble role in this story.”

Navalny has filed several lawsuits in different Moscow courts, accusing Chaika of defamation, but to no avail — so far all of the courts have declined to process the suits.

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