Grozny residents claim being forced to attend rally

Today, Grozny is hosting a rally within the framework of the all-Russian action "Russia in My Heart". The state servants, funded from the budget, have stated that had received threats of firing for non-participation in the rally; and students told that they had come to the rally under the threat of non-admission to the examination session.

The rally was initiated by the Public Chamber of Russia, a source from the Grozny Mayoralty told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "The main goal of the event is to show our unity," he said.

State servants and students told the "Caucasian Knot" that they had been warned in advance about the must to come to the rally. "We were warned yesterday that by 10 a.m. we should be in the city centre and take part in the rally, the participation is strictly obligatory for everyone; it will be supervised by the bosses. A failure to come entails a punishment, up to dismissal from work," asserts Markha, an employee of one of the republic's ministries.

"Today's classes have been cancelled; everyone should be at the rally in central Grozny, which looks like a rally against the latest sanctions imposed by the USA against Russia. As before, we are intended to create a massive appearance," said Ramzan, a student of one of Grozny's higher schools.

"The participation in the rally is mandatory; methodologists and teachers are in charge of supervising it. Those absent were promised not to be admitted to passing tests and examinations," said another student named Isa.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.