Reprimand of persons detained for dissent points to new Chechen authorities' campaign

Law enforcers, public officers, and a theologian held a "preventive conversation" with young residents of Chechnya detained "for digressing from the norms of traditional Islam." Residents of the region claim a new campaign by the authorities to combat dissent.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that "preventive conversations" with residents of Chechnya is a standard practice for the law enforcement bodies in the republic. After another "conversation" with residents of the Urus-Martan District held on December 15, users of social networks also noted that such preventive measures were ineffective and humiliated people.

A video of the preventive conversation held by Chechen law enforcers was posted in the "Chp_chechenya" group on Instagram.

"A healthy and educated young generation is the future of the republic, and such illegal manifestations among young people are unacceptable," said Ruslan Alkhanov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Chechnya, as quoted on social networks.

According to the Chechen minister, the detainees "were engaged in violations."

Most of the social network users who commented on the video wondered what the definition of "traditional Islam" meant. They also reacted negatively to preventive methods in Chechnya and called for compliance with the Constitution.