Rights defenders: Ramzan Kadyrov uses totalitarian methods to combat dissent

Regular release of stories about public humiliation by Ramzan Kadyrov of supporters of Salafi concept of Islam enhances the atmosphere of fear in Chechnya and creates the image of the republic as a totalitarian state inside the state. This opinion was expressed by rights defenders interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

On February 11, Ramzan Kadyrov made a statement on the suppression of the activity of a group of Salafis propagating extremist ideas on the Internet. They expressed negative attitude towards Chechen sheikhs Bamatgirey Mitaev and Kunta Kishiev.

Oleg Orlov, a member of the Board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", believes that Ramzan Kadyrov has no right to interfere in personal online conversations. According to Oleg Orlov, the practice of public humiliation of residents of Chechnya is used in the republic so actively that it "cracks" the Chechen society.

Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, the project director for Northern Caucasus of the International Crisis Group, notes that the reports showing how Ramzan Kadyrov give lessons to Chechen residents, especially members of the Salafi community, are similar and appear regularly. According to her, they are aimed at maintaining the Ramzan Kadyrov's authority.

Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya has also added that another purpose of the reports is to emphasize the severity of the religious policy of the Chechen leader.

Finally, the report is used to "once again remind the young people that all the social networks are being watched."

According to Valery Borschov, a member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, the Ramzan Kadyrov's actions should be checked by the public agencies.

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