Chechen MIA denies beating protesting builders

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Chechen Republic denies reports of disproportionate use of force at dispersal in Grozny of the rally of builders who had worked for Turkish construction companies.

"There were no mass beatings and detentions, in principle," a spokesman of local law enforcers told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Indeed, on February 24, near the mosque 'The Heart of Chechnya' some 300 persons gathered, former workers of Turkish construction companies, who demanded to pay their outstanding wages. Their actions were unlawful; therefore, they were offered to disperse; and those who resisted the power agents – about ten persons – were detained," said the source.

A representative of the Muftiat of Chechnya has expressed his dissatisfaction with the workers' actions.

"These people behaved as provocateurs. They demanded from the Imam of the mosque to give them the floor after the prayer. But the mosque is not the place to discuss worldly affairs – it is a place of worship to the Almighty. Therefore, they were asked to leave. Of course, people have the right to claim their honestly earned money, but this should be done within the law and without creating problems for believers, who came to their Friday prayer," said an employee of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Chechnya.

The participants in the rally assert that brute physical force was applied against them. Moreover, the power agents, among whom, according to the builders, there were employees of Ramzan Kadyrov's personal bodyguards, beat not only men but also women.

"They poured threats and curses on us and beat everyone who came to hand, kicked and punched, and beat with rubber truncheons. Several persons, who tried to stop the beating and defend themselves, were dragged into cars and driven away. Later, they were released," said one of the workers.

Activists of local NGOs are indignant with the actions of power agents and authorities against the builders.

"People here are usually very kind to women. In understanding of Chechens, as well as, indeed, all other nations of the Caucasus, every woman is, in the first place, someone's mother, sister or wife... I wasn't there myself, but as far as I know, they dared to beat women there," said the leader of one of local NGOs.