Rally of builders from Turkish companies dispersed in Chechnya

Today in Grozny, near the central mosque, women and men, who had worked for the Turkish construction companies "Penta" and "Bora Inshaat" and who were not paid their wages, held a rally with a demand to the authorities to address their problems. In total, by different estimates, from 250 to 400 people took part in the action.

The protesters were dispersed and beaten by armed men in camouflage. According to various sources, some 6-10 persons were detained and later released.

"Some people went to fix their beatings to the forensic examination; others went home," said one of the former employees of the Turkish companies.

"We gathered outside the mosque 'The Heart of Chechnya' just by the time of Friday prayer. This mosque is attended by almost all state officials, including the head of the republic Ramzan Kadyrov. The men entered the mosque, and the Imam asked them to stay after their prayer. After the prayer, seven or eight of them tried to explain the Imam that they wanted to speak about their problems publicly. They said that the officials, including Ramzan Kadyrov, should know that the people who had built the 'Grozny-City' – the pride of our republic – and other large objects should be paid for their work. The Imam became angry and asked them to leave the mosque," one of the women who participated in the rally said on condition of anonymity.

Then, she said, the men came out of the mosque, and "cars appeared from somewhere, from which armed men in uniform jumped out."

"They attacked the protesters right in the eyes of the mosque congregation. They kicked them, including women. They were from all law enforcement bodies, including even the guards of the head of the republic. Once a group of activists was pulled into the van, the Imam of the mosque began to insult them. He shouted addressing the rest of them: 'Get out of here!'," said another participant of the action, who also preferred to remain anonymous. The source also said that he feared for his life and his family.

Activists of local NGOs have confirmed the information on the dispersal of the rally. "It is terrible that this happens in our republic in broad daylight," said a woman-activist of one of human rights organization, who also asked not to reveal her name.

The Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has failed to confirm information about detentions and dispersal of the rally. The "Caucasian Knot" has no comments of the Imam of the mosque "The Heart of Chechnya".

Nurdi Nukhazhiev, the Ombudsman in the Chechen Republic, has also refused to confirm that the builders' rally was dispersed. "Today, I was in the central mosque in Grozny at the Friday prayer and saw no protesters. As far as I know, the Imam of the mosque asked them to stay for a talk. I don't think that anything could happen. If violations are really confirmed, I'll interfere," the Ombudsman said in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot".