Chechen residents report methods of forced large-scale subbotniks

In Chechnya, under the threat of dismissal, public sector employees have to paint trees and collect damage on roads and cemeteries in their free time, local residents complain. Thousands of people participate in subbotniks (voluntary cleaning works on Saturdays) in Chechnya, the republic's authorities report.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in Chechnya, public sector employees repeatedly reported about their forced participation in events organized by the authorities. So, on September 12, schoolchildren and public sector employees were involved in environmental subbotniks in the Shali and Gudermes Districts.

In the Grozny District, public sector employees were obliged to take part in a subbotnik, in particular, on September 18, reported Malika, an employee of one of the local public institutions.

In the Shali District, employees of one of the public institutions took part in subbotniks during several days, said Khava, a local resident.

According to Murad, an employee of a public institution, he and his colleagues had to take part in a subbotnik two times during a week.

Chechnya is the only region of the Russian Federation where the authorities regularly arrange subbotniks, notes Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the "Civic Assistance Committee".

It is illegal to oblige public sector employees to take part in subbotniks, notes advocate Yevgeny Chernousov.