TV story about Chechen beggar points to new trend in Ramzan Kadyrov's propaganda

A TV report about a woman who was begging in Grozny continued a series of exposing stories on the Chechen TV Channel. Residents of the republic condemned the public persecution of the family.

On July 22, the "Grozny" TV Channel showed a report about Tisa Aslambekova, a resident of Urus-Martan, who asked for alms from visitors of a mosque in Grozny. The woman claimed she was a widow of a policeman and was in a difficult life situation. However, it turned out that Tisa Aslambekova had a house donated by the Akhmat Kadyrov Public Foundation and a land plot.

A brother of Tisa Aslambekova said he was ashamed of his sister, who suffered from a nervous system disease. The TV story also emphasized that the woman's husband did not decease in the execution of official duty, but died as a result of alcoholism.

Begging has always been condemned in the Chechen society, but such TV reports also go against the accepted rules, local residents and activists note.

"The authorities themselves have taught people for years to beg for something from them, and today, they express indignation when someone is involved in begging," noted Djabrail, a resident of the republic.

Historically, any form of begging was despised by the Chechen society, but the fact that the woman suffers from decease makes the TV report immoral, believes Ruslan Kutaev, the chair of the Assembly of the Peoples of the Caucasus.

The TV story about Tisa Aslambekova is a part of the propaganda campaign about "the true Chechen traditions," believes Akhmet Yarlykapov, a researcher engaged in oriental studies.

If the woman actually suffers from decease, no one may condemn her, especially in public, believes Alexei Malashenko, a researcher engaged in oriental studies. He associates the appearance of exposing TV stories with the initiative of Ramzan Kadyrov's subordinates.