Russian Opposition Leader Wants Investigation Into Kadyrov's 'Threatening' Video

Mikhail Kasyanov, leader of the PARNAS opposition party, has asked law enforcement agencies to open a criminal investigation into a video posted on Instagram by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, the Interfax news agency reported.

The request to the Investigative Committee was filed by Kasyanov and PARNAS deputy chairman Vladimir Kara-Murza on Wednesday, lawyer Vadim Prokhorov told Interfax.

The video in question showed Kasyanov and Kara-Murza in a sniper's crosshairs and was posted on Kadyrov's Instagram on Feb. 1.

Kasyanov said he sees the video as a direct threat against a state official, Interfax reported Monday.

The controversial clip — later removed by the website — is not the first attack the Kremlin-backed Chechen leader has made on the Russian political opposition. Last month, Kadyrov labelled Putin's opponents “jackals” and “enemies of the people.”