"Struggle for morality" serves to hide blackmailing in Northern Caucasus

The blackmailers who threaten girls with posting their intimate photos are only interested in money; they have nothing to do with fighters for morality, the North-Caucasian journalists and public figures interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in late 2020, 18 criminal cases were opened against a resident of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR). According to the police, he extorted money from girls by threatening to spread their intimate photos in social networks. Similar cases are being investigated in other regions of Northern Caucasus.

According to Murat Gukemukhov, a KChR journalist, the practice of blackmailing girls with intimate photos is met for the first time in the region.

"The Northern Caucasus still remains a traditional society; and even most successful women have to reckon with this," Mr Gukemukhov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on January 3. He has treated this practice as a "criminal business" that has nothing to do with the "fight for morality."

Mariam Alieva, an activist from Dagestan, engaged in helping victims of blackmail, also told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the persons involved in Internet-bullying most often have nothing to do with either traditions or morality.

"Should they be adherents of customs or strugglers for morality, they would, upon learning that a girl is sending out her intimate photos, talk to her, explain that this is not acceptable, or talk to her family, making claims about customs and violations thereof. However, they are just extorting money, being indifferent to religion, traditions and customs," Ms Alieva has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 4, 2021 at 03:39 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.