Experts report on method systematically used to humiliate Chechen residents criticizing Ramzan Kadyrov

The experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have reported on the increasing use of the method of humiliation of Chechen residents, who dare to voice negative assessment of Ramzan Kadyrov's activities.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 20, Internet users reported on the public humiliation of Adam Dikaev, a resident of Chechnya, for criticizing Ramzan Kadyrov. The social networks have disseminated a video, in which Adam Dikaev with his pants taken off said he was wrong and expressed his support of the current power.

Adam Dikaev's story is not unique, since the Chechen authorities frequently resort to the tactics of public humiliation. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Tatiana Lokshina, the Russia programme director and the senior researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW).

"The method was primarily used against relatives of suspected militants when their parents were forced in a humiliating manner to confess in front of a video camera to insufficient upbringing of their children," Tatiana Lokshina has stated.

However, according to her, recently, this method is used against activists and critics of the Chechen authorities.

Tatiana Lokshina has also mentioned the story of Aishat Inaeva, a resident of the Nadterechny District of Chechnya, who criticized Ramzan Kadyrov and his regime. After that, the Internet posted an interview with Aishat Inaeva, in which the woman "with her head down and dull eyes" was describing the good life in the region and stating it was her mistake to criticize Ramzan Kadyrov.

Tatiana Lokshina has emphasized that when using the method of humiliation, the authorities put pressure on the honour not only of a person him- or herself, but also his or her family members, and that is very important for Chechens.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.