Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman leader of Russia's Chechnya republic, has been accused of inciting Muslim leaders in Montenegro to help stage a Russia-backed coup to prevent Nato membership.

MPs Milan Knezevic and Andrija Mandic from Montenegro's pro-Russian Democratic Front opposition bloc and several Serbians are on trial for plotting to take over parliament and assassinate then-prime minister Milo Djukanovic before the October 2016 election. Two Russians allegedly organised the conspiracy on behalf of Russian intelligence, The Telegraph revealed in February.

After the plotters' arrest, an ally of Mr Djukanovic was elected prime minister, and Montenegro joined Nato in June despite Moscow's objections.

In a letter to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, Knezevic and Mandic said Mr Kadyrov had figured in the indictment starting last week and was accused of agitating Muslim community leaders to help the Democratic Front overthrow the government, Izvestia newspaper reported.