17:10, 12 June 2014

Residents of Chechnya complain about coercion to participate in Day of Russia celebrations

Spectators at the concert organized to mark the Day of Russia at the square in front of ‘Heart of Chechnya’ Mosque, Grozny, June 12, 2014. Photo by Magomed Magomedov for the ‘Caucasian Knot’.

On June 12, celebrated as the Day of Russia, a mass festive demonstration was held in the centre of Grozny, the Chechen capital. "The total number of participants may exceed one hundred thousand persons," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the Mayoralty.

The festivities were accompanied by reinforced security measures. Since morning, law enforcers blocked the downtown of Grozny.

Some state employees and university students of Chechnya reported being forced to participate in the celebrations.

"As usual, we were involved in the festivities. Those who won't come today had been promised big troubles, up to non-admission to exams. In the morning, they distributed banners, flags and posters, and sent us to the city centre to take part in a demonstration," said Zelimkhan U., a university student from Grozny.

Author: Muslim Ibragimov, Alexander Ivanov

Source: CK correspondents