GROZNY, Russia, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Russia's southern region of Chechnya has reopened a kidnap investigation against a Russian officer released early last month from a murder sentence, the regional prosecutors said on Tuesday.

The investigation potentially pits Chechen investigators against Russian justice officials who cleared the early release of Colonel Yuri Budanov, jailed for the 2000 murder of a 17-year-old Chechen girl during his tour of duty in Chechnya.

Budanov's early release by a regional Russian court triggered angry demonstrations in Grozny, organised by the Chechen authorities.

In 1999 Moscow sent soldiers and tanks back in to Chechnya to drive out rebels who had taken control after a 1994-96 war. The pro-Kremlin Ramzan Kadyrov runs Chechnya. (Writing by James Kilner in Moscow)

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