In Grozny, students complain about being forced to take part in electoral flashmob

On March 5, Grozny held the international exercises "18.03.18: We choose a strong country!" Grozny students said they were obliged to take part in the action.

Exercises with the participation of young people from among members of sports organizations and sections, students, and senior schoolchildren took place in the centre of Grozny. The participants performed a number of simplest sports exercises and each of 18 two-leg squats, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by an official from the Mayoralty of the capital of Chechnya.

According to the official, about 5000 people took part in the action.

Local residents interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" reported that participation in the rally was not voluntary.

"We were sent there straight from classes. They say that by 11:00 a.m. we had to be in the square. It was not handy to make exercises on dirty asphalt. We limited ourselves to simple exercises: arms and legs waving and two-leg squatting. We waited for more than three hours. And it was all over for some 15-20 minutes," said Khussein, a student of a secondary special education institution in Grozny.

"We spent more time waiting there. Everyone was already pretty tired, but it was not allowed to leave. We had to stay and wait in cold wind and drizzling rain until the authorities arrived," noted student Isa.