Instagram users doubt sincerity of apologies to Ramzan Kadyrov

Authors of negative posts about Chechnya are forced to retract their comments, despite the obvious insincerity of such apologies, note Instagram users. Supporters of the methods of forced apologies also do not deny the forced nature of the apologies.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at a meeting in the Chechen government held on November 4, Ramzan Kadyrov voiced a demand to identify authors of negative posts about the Chechen republic and social network users commenting on them. On November 18, video appeals of two social network users, who asked Ramzan Kadyrov to forgive them for their comments, were posted on Instagram.

Some Instagram users have noted the dubious value of a forced apology. "Who does need such an apology, since it is insincere?" expressed his surprise user mamaevu653, a follower of the "Caucasian Knot" page on Instagram. "There's an expression: love cannot be forced. It's time for the authorities of Chechnya to understand this truth and leave people alone. Do they have nothing else to do rather than surfing social networks and intimidating people?" wrote user abdmaqomedof, whose post gained 10 likes.

"I always thought that apologies should come from the person's soul and inner conviction, from awareness, not fear. But this is Chechnya, and it has its own laws," wrote user mato4kinargazm in the "About Chechnya and more" group.

User islamhas100, another follower of the same group, expressed his approval of the practice of forced public apologies for posts on social networks. "If the individual correctional activities continue this way, everyone will have an understanding that one cannot write what one cannot say in person," the user noted.

Followers of the "ChP Chechnya" group expressed similar opinions. Meanwhile, authors of the comments have no doubt that such apologies are a "punishment." "I believe that's good they punish some users <...> to ensure others would abstain from leaving negative posts," wrote user abdula2136.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 20, 2019 at 05:31 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.