Mask rejection stresses Kadyrov's indifference to Chechens' opinion

Ramzan Kadyrov doesn't care about reaction of Chechen residents, outraged by officials' disregard for the mask regime, analysts assert. At the same time, Chechens would not follow Kadyrov, but act on the issue of wearing medical masks at their own discretion, the analysts believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that residents of Chechnya confessed to their formally observing the mask regime, despite the strict demands; they wear one and the same mask for a long time.

Local residents have repeatedly criticized officials for their double standards in observing the quarantine measures. Thus, on August 9, at his meeting with bloggers, Kadyrov was without a mask, same like his guests.

Ruslan Kutaev, the President of the Assembly of Caucasian Nations, believes that Kadyrov disregards the Chechens' reaction when ignoring wearing a mask at mass events. According to Kutaev, Kadyrov and his entourage wouldn't wear masks because they simply don't want to.

In the opinion of Alexei Malashenko, a political analyst, by doing so, the head of Chechnya emphasizes not the social gap between him and the society, but just his own greatness.

Mikhail Roschin, an Orientalist, believes that Kadyrov has fallen victim to his ambition regarding the mask wearing. At the same time, in his opinion, the behaviour of residents of Chechnya in this matter does not depend on whether Kadyrov himself wears a mask. "People are already tired of these masks; and when it's possible not to wear them, they don't do it," Mr Roschin has added.