17 September 2020, 10:49
Attacks on Zakaev and his supporters accompanied by criticism of Chechen authorities in social networks
After the gatherings in Grozny and in the village of Djalka accompanied by condemnation of Akhmed Zakaev, who had accused Chechen authorities of humiliating Salman Tepsurkaev, similar events took place in other dwelling settlements of Chechnya. Many Instagram users treat the topic of these gatherings as far-fetched, while people are forced to take part in them.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that meetings with the condemnation of Akhmed Zakaev, the head of government of the self-proclaimed Ichkeria (banned in Russia) began in Chechnya after he stood up for the humiliated Salman Tepsurkaev.
On September 7, in Chechnya, and then beyond the republic, a wide public outcry was provoked by a video in which a naked man, who introduced himself as Salman Tepsurkaev, was sitting on a bottle with explanations that he was doing that as punishment for his cooperation with the opposition "1ADAT" Telegram channel.
Citizens' gatherings are held in almost all the settlements in Chechnya, the "Grozny" ChGTRK (Chechen State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company) has reported today on its Instagram page. "Those present at gatherings declare that 'Euro-Ichkerians' have no right to speak on behalf of the Chechen people. The attached video tells about such gatherings in the villages of Meskety and Zandak of the Nozhai-Yurt District.
Many Instagram users, who have commented on the news of the conviction of Zakaev and his supporters, believe that villagers were forced to attend the gatherings, and the very topic of these events was treated as far-fetched. They also expressed outrage over the incident with Tepsurkaev.
"Just go out and show your courage and discontent about the young guy's treatment thus ugly and inhumanly," the user batirgoitemirov writes in his comment on the news about the gatherings posted on the "Grozny" ChGTRK in the Instagram page. "For some reason no one came out with indignation that a young Chechen guy had been humiliated in the most perverse way before the whole world. What is the matter with you, proud, brave and fair Chechens?" the user che_milord has asked.
"But everyone was gathered forcibly," he notes in another post. "Somehow they don't look like the outraged volunteers who came out on their will [...]; you can see that in their faces and by how they stand – as if they are punished," the user za_kra_khamzalatov has noted.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 16, 2020 at 11:16 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
