Grozny townspeople outraged by demand to wear masks in marketplaces

Visitors to Grozny marketplaces have complained about the demand to wear medical masks outdoors. However, market traders have explained that because of the threat of huge fines, they have to perform this requirement of supervisory bodies.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in late July, Chechen authorities tightened measures to prevent coronavirus. In particular, local residents were ordered to strictly observe the mask-wearing regime. At the same time, in the July 31 report on the "Grozny" TV Channel, Chechen leaders, who visited Akhmat Kadyrov' grave, stood in a close circle without medical masks. Residents of Chechnya were outraged by the violation of the mask regime by the head of Chechnya and his retinue.

On August 7, residents of Grozny told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that they were faced with the securities' demand to wear masks at local marketplaces; otherwise they threatened not to let them into the marketplace.

"Yesterday [on August 6], guards didn't let us into the marketplace, because my sister and I were not wearing masks. They seem to say that masks should only be worn indoors, in buses and minibuses, but here, in the open air, there is no such demand. We quarrelled with them and left, although we had masks with us," said Markha, a resident of Grozny.

"Yesterday [on August 6], at the entrance to our local marketplace, a security guard stopped me, saying that he couldn't let me in without a mask, because the market managers could be fined by 300,000 roubles, and he would be fired. We had to fulfil the demand, although I know that masks are a must only when visiting indoors, and not outdoors," said Khamid, a local resident.

"Authorities demand from us to almost constantly wear masks, but they themselves openly ignore the mask regime ... Naturally, people have distrust. If these masks really brought any good, then no official would appear without them," Malika, a Grozny woman, is convinced. "But practically none of them wear these masks, but now they don't even let ordinary people into open marketplaces without masks."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 8, 2020 at 07:03 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.