Residents of Chechnya report being enforced to participate in actions in support of Kadyrov

Chechen officials and deputies of various levels urge residents of Chechnya "to support Kadyrov in his fight against the 'fifth column'." The authorities have obliged state employees and pupils to come to the actions in support of Kadyrov, residents of Chechnya report.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 12, Ramzan Kadyrov said that the non-systemic opposition should be treated "as public enemies and traitors," who are trying to stagger the situation in Russia. Human rights defenders, opposition leaders, the Russian Ombudsman, and intellectuals have sharply criticized the statement made by the Chechen leader on January 12. On January 18, Maxim Reznik, an MP from Saint Petersburg, filed to the General Prosecutor's Office an appeal with a request to verify the Ramzan Kadyrov's statement for extremism.

The preparation of actions in support of Kadyrov in Grozny became known back on January 18, when Igor Kalyapin, the head of the non-profit organization (NPO) "Committee to Prevent Torture" (CPT), informed about it with reference to a resident of Grozny.

"On Friday, Grozny will host a rally in support of Kadyrov. Unfortunately, I'll have to go, otherwise, a dismissal..." Igor Kalyapin quoted a Chechen resident on his page in the Facebook, adding today that teachers and senior pupils were also ordered to appear at the Kadyrov's support rally on January 22.

"On Friday, January 22, at 9 a.m., all the employees must gather at the monument to Peoples' Friendship to rally in support of Kadyrov. Nobody will have to ask for a leave from work, since they announced a day-off specifically for the rally," this was a demand addressed, according to Igor Kalyapin, to Chechen teachers.

An order was given to Chechen state officials prescribing to take part in the flash mob and rally to be held on January 21 and 22, the edition "Zhak.com" has reported today citing an anonymous letter from an employee of the Chechen Ministry of Press.

"Every second employee must have a slogan written on half a sheet of drawing paper. Every third employee should hold a photo of Akhmat Kadyrov and Ramzan Kadyrov," the above edition quotes the demand to the participants of the actions in support of Kadyrov.

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