Human rights activists: Ramzan Kadyrov leads Chechnya to Shariat

"What they have been fighting against in Chechnya - Shariat, drop out from the unified legal space, neglect of the Russian laws on the Republic's territory – everything which Dudaev was accused of, and also Maskhadov after the Khasavyurt agreement, now reigns in the republic under the patronage of Moscow," stated Lev Levinson, expert of the Institute of Human Rights, to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent while commenting on the recent Ramzan Kadyrov's orders with regard to mandatory wearing of kerchiefs by women. "Even a child can understand that it runs counter to the Constitution or the Russian laws. He has no authority to issue this kind of instructions, orders, directions, etc. "

For reference, today, as the IA REGNUM reports, Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of Chechnya government, ordered to reanimate the law of Ichkeria on the mandatory wearing by women of head-gear. Employees of the ministries of education, culture, finance, economic development, social sphere, the government and the parliament and also students of the university and the pedagogical institute and TV journalists are obliged to wear kerchiefs.

The IA REGNUM stresses that, "it should be noted that there was no written instruction." The prime-minister only voiced a "wish which is a demand."

The agency statement also mentions that four women have been elected to the Chechen parliament. All of them wore head-gear even without an instruction from Kadyrov. Zina Magomadova, deputy of the National Assembly, said she "sees nothing blameworthy in this." As regards TV journalists and presenters, most of them put on a kerchief immediately before going into the air and take it off after that. However, the request by the prime-minister is abided by – Chechen women-journalists appear on the TV screens in kerchiefs.

In the opinion of Levinson, the fact that the instruction by Ramzan Kadyrov is oral "makes it especially poignant." "In principle, being a politician, Kadyrov may request anything, but only as a politician. But now he is heading the executive power. He is not entitled to speak about or request such things. For instance, if he were member of the Chechen parliament, he would be free to say anything because a deputy should not be limited in his political statements. But being the head of the government, he must strictly follow the country's laws," – stressed the expert on human rights.

"For instance, Dudaev did not go as far in infringing on the rights of his subjects. During Maskhadov's times, between the wars, there were signs of forcing Shariat. But at that time it was not clear, what compare it with because the republic had dropped out from the Russia's legal space, the legal situation was different," says Lev Levinson. "But now it is claimed that everything is vice versa, and Chechnya is back to the family of fraternal nations. If such instruction were given by Basaev, one would not be surprised, but here we have a Moscow's protégé."

Answering the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent's question on the prospects of the development of such situation in Chechnya, Levinson said: "We have already reached a situation when, under the Moscow's patronage, the republic uncontrollably and without limitation is governed by local princes." "What Ramzan Kadyrov does here is an example for the neighbouring republics, maybe to a lesser degree, but an example. It is a complete lawlessness in Kabardino-Balkaria, neither Ustinov nor Russian MIA are an authority for them. The republic is controlled by the local power authorities and the Republic's head only has a nominal power, and the actions by Kadyrov strengthen the feelings of impunity," says the expert. "Soon, gangs are going to rule there, covered by formally powerless leaders, such as Alkhanov or Zyazikov. All power will be in the hands of the power authorities, clans, teips, etc., under a seemingly "clean" Republic's leader."

For reference, earlier, Ramzan Kadyrov prohibited Chechen girls to use mobile phones in public places and introduced a prohibition on public drinking of alcohol and gambling in gambling places.