Neighbours of CTO casualties in Grozny report ban on commemoration

The homes of the young people, killed in the counterterrorist operation (CTO) in Grozny on December 17-18, after a series of attacks on policemen, fail to hold the commemoration ceremonies (tezet), mandatory in such cases, said the neighbours. According to their story, there is no one to hold the tezet, as almost all the males, detained at night on December 17 are still in custody at the police.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in the evening on December 17, the counterterrorist operation (CTO) regime was introduced in Grozny. Power agents reported that four militants had been killed in a shootout, and two others were hospitalized with gunshot wounds. In the afternoon on December 18, they blocked a private house in an outskirt of Grozny. According to power agents, three militants were killed there, and two others were detained. Thus, in total, during two days, seven militants were killed, and four others were detained, three of them were wounded. Four policemen were also killed; and one policeman was wounded. Islamic State, banned in Russia by court and recognized as a terrorist organization, has taken credit for the attacks.  

"Usually, if someone dies in the family, they open the gates; and people come to express their condolences. Now, there's nothing of the kind. Relatives are prohibited to hold the tezet over the 'shaitans' (devils), as the authorities treat these guys here. Besides, there's nobody to run the tezet, as virtually all adults were detained at night on December 17; and they are still kept at the police," a resident of Grozny named Isa told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, adding that he lives in the same street with the family of one of the guys killed in the CTO in Grozny.

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