Chechen residents criticize Kadyrov's words after resonant traffic accident

Ramzan Kadyrov has commented on the fatal road accident in Grozny with the participation of his relative, making it clear that the latter will not be punished.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in early December, in social networks, residents of Chechnya-network users demanded from the head of the republic to react to the road accident, treating a high-ranking official, a Ramzan Kadyrov's cousin to be the culprit of the accident.

On December 18, at a sitting dedicated to the observance of traffic rules on Chechen roads, Ramzan Kadyrov commented, for the first time, on the accident involving his relative, actually acknowledging the latter's guilt in the accident.

According to Kadyrov, relatives of those killed in the accident "had themselves asked" not to punish the official, who had caused the accident. He was outraged at the fact that other fatal road accidents with a large number of victims are not the subject of discussion.

The reaction of the Chechen authorities to the accident calls into question the equality of all citizens before the law, residents of Chechnya and social network users assert.

Law enforcement bodies are ignoring a clear violation of the law – the culprit of the accident, who killed the whole family, should be brought to justice, said Aslanbek, a local resident.

"At first, the authorities tried to hide the accident, by naming another person as the culprit thereof; now, Kadyrov has acknowledged the fact that [his relative] was in charge of this terrible accident, but he is not punished, because, allegedly, casualties' relatives had pardoned him," Aslanbek told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"This case is an indicator of absence of justice in Chechnya. People, including a pregnant woman and a child, are killed, and we are told about forgiveness and the requests of casualties' relatives not to dismiss the culprit from office," Dokka, a Grozny resident, told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 21, 2018 at 11:07 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.