Residents of Chechnya treat video appeal of blogger Malizaev's wife to him as forced one

The wife of Minkail Malizaev, an active critic of Ramzan Kadyrov's regime, living in Germany, has posted a video clip, in which she publicly renounced her husband. Residents of Chechnya suggest that the clip was recorded video was shot under pressure in order to humiliate Malizaev.

In April 2018, Malizaev, a Chechen native, told in a video posted on the YouTube how he was beaten up after calling European Chechens to hold rallies "against the lawlessness in Chechnya and in general in Russia." He also reported the deportation of his wife and children. Then, Malizaev's relatives urged him to stop criticizing the authorities.

The woman in the video clip introduces herself as Luiza Israilova and tells that she had been Malizaev's wife, but no longer is.

Some commentators supported the woman.

"By the conversation manner, it's clear that she was forced to say this," wrote the user "War is not far off".

The residents of Chechnya interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent expressed different opinions about whether the new video of ex-Malizaev's wife was made under pressure.

"It's clear that it was done under pressure, and is intended to humiliate Malizaev and show his inconsistency as the father of his children and husband," said Vakhid, a local resident.

Some have criticized the blogger himself.

"Unlike Tumso Abdurakhmanov, his videos have no criticism, just someone's insults," wrote Islam, a university student.